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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Skin patch to cure life-threatening allergies

Ben, 4, and Lucy, 2, are severely allergic to both nuts and milk. Ben almost died when his father kissed him after eating a peanut butter sandwich.

For them, and millions of people worldwide, a cure for anaphylactic shock would transform their lives.

Now, a team of child health specialists has pioneered a revolutionary skin patch that can cure people of life-threatening allergies, reports theDaily Express .

Researchers have already successfully used the device against cow's milk allergies in babies and children.

Teams in Europe and the US are now testing the 'allergy patch' to prevent reactions to nuts.

It works by releasing minute doses of the allergen that causes the reaction into the immune systemthrough the skin, desensitising the sufferer.
 
"It is a completely novel method of treating allergies. It will be a very easy treatment to administer, it is safe and possible to treat both adults and children, who will be able to lead a normal life," said Dr Pierre-Henri Benhamou, one of its two French inventors.

Source: The times of India