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Infants in developing countries at higher risk of allergies, expert says
Health expert Michelle Pietzak says the risk of allergy in infants in developing countries, including Indonesia, was quite high, as it affected around 30 percent of babies
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ealth expert Michelle Pietzak says the risk of allergy in infants in developing countries, including Indonesia, was quite high, as it affected around 30 percent of babies.
'It means one in three babies in Indonesia is at risk of developing allergies triggered by factors such as their environment,' she said during a discussion on allergy prevalence at the University of Indonesia's School of Medicine in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.
Referring on several cases that she had handled in the US, Pietzak said a number of infants had skin disorders. 'Atopic dermatitis is the most common allergy,' she said.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disorder, which appears in form of rash. 'The skin disorder commonly affects the face, elbows and knees,' said Pietzak, adding that the main causes of allergic reaction varied.
'Environmental factors could be a major causes; however, our findings show that 60 percent of allergy cases in babies are caused by over sensitivity to food,' the expert further said.
Pietzak hoped that her study could be used as a guideline for parents in Indonesia on how best to protect their babies from allergic reactions. (ebf)
