Imagine growing up and never experiencing the joy of tasting a fried egg? According to the BBC, food researchers are now one step closer to completely curing egg allergies, which affect up to 2.5% of children.
While many outgrow it by the age of 5, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that exposing these kids to the eggs will also help their sensitive little bodies to adjust.
The study on 55 children aged 5-11 found that after 22 months of daily consumption of tiny amounts of powdered egg (ultimately building up to about a third of one egg), 75% of the kids observed were able to eat the equivalent of two eggs without reacting. When the participants were retested four to six weeks after stopping treatment, it was found that 28% could still eat egg without reacting and were considered "allergy-free."
The researchers stressed that parents should only attempt to feed their children eggs under the guidance of a licensed professional. Researcher Dr. Stacie Jones says these findings "provide some hope" that similar therapies could be used to help overcome food allergies in the future.
While many outgrow it by the age of 5, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that exposing these kids to the eggs will also help their sensitive little bodies to adjust.
The study on 55 children aged 5-11 found that after 22 months of daily consumption of tiny amounts of powdered egg (ultimately building up to about a third of one egg), 75% of the kids observed were able to eat the equivalent of two eggs without reacting. When the participants were retested four to six weeks after stopping treatment, it was found that 28% could still eat egg without reacting and were considered "allergy-free."
The researchers stressed that parents should only attempt to feed their children eggs under the guidance of a licensed professional. Researcher Dr. Stacie Jones says these findings "provide some hope" that similar therapies could be used to help overcome food allergies in the future.
