Atopy in Children
http://www.paam.net/sl-atopy.htmAtopy in Children of Families with an Anthroposophic Lifestyle
[Abstract from article appearing in The Lancet May 1, 1999 by Alm JS, Swartz J, Lilja G, Scheynius A, Pershagen G.]
Background: Increased prevalence of atopic disorders in children may be associated with changes in types of childhood infection, vaccination programmes, and intestinal microflora. People who follow an anthroposophic way of life use antibiotics restrictively, have few vaccinations, and their diet usually contains live lactobacilli, which may affect the intestinal microflora. We aimed to study the prevalence of atopy in children from anthroposophic families and the influence of an anthroposophic lifestyle on atropy prevalence.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 295 children aged 5-13 years at two anthroposophic (Steiner) schools near Stockholm, Sweden, were compared with 380 children of the same age at two neighbouring schools in terms of history of atopic and infections diseases, use of antibiotics and vaccinations, and social and environmental variables. Skin-prick tests were done for 13 common allergens, and we took blood samples from children and their parents for analysis of allergen-specific serum lgE-antibodies.
Findings: At the Steiner schools, 52% of the children had had antibiotics in the past compared with 90% in the control schools. 18% and 93% of children, respectively had had combined immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella, and 61% of the children at the Steiner schools had had measles. Fermented vegetables, containing live lactobacilli, were consumed by 63% of the children at Steiner schools, compared with 4.5% at the control schools. Skin-prick tests and blood tests showed that the children from Steiner schools had lower prevalence of atopy than controls (odds ratio 0-62 {95% Cl 0-43-0.91}. There was an inverse relation between the number of characteristic features of an anthroposophic lifestyle and risk of atopy )p for trend=01).
Interpretation: Prevalence of atopy is lower in children from anthroposophical families than in children from other families. Lifestyle factors associated with anthroposophy may lessen the risk of atopy in childhood.
Lancet 1999; 353:1485-88
its funny that they consider vaccinations a "life style" factor... staying away from vaccinations appears more like common sense to me.
John g
Hi john,
Can I get your opinion on something?
I would love to adopt from china but am concerned about hepatitis. Vaccs aren't mandatory, but the chance of getting a baby with undiagnosed hep b i think is about 1 in 20-30.
I'm wondering if I should just avoid china or if I should take my chances .. can i POSSIBLY have any more bad luck in life???
I'm thinking if I can flush my liver adequately first, it might reduce my chances of getting ill considerably. They say only 5-10% of adults who get infected can't kick it and it becomes a lifelong chronic infection.
anyway, I remember that you have lived there, and given your interest in vaccinations and the liver, was wondering your opinion...
of course there is hep a too, esp if you travel.
would you be willing to take your family to china without vaccs??
Shari-
The first time I went to China, over 10 years ago, I got the vaccine. If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't even consider it... But i was young and not very wordly.
I know many people who have lived in China and don't know anyone who got hep... most don't bother with the vaccine these days. If you eat in decent places and stay away from the poorest areas, I think the chances are small. besides, I would say that simply avoiding infectious agents like hep is not the ticket the being healthy anyway. On the contrary, if you are healthy, it should be not be a big deal at all to be exposed to hep. its not the hep that makes you unhealthy, rather, we catch and can't shake hep precisely because we already are unhealthy.
i don't know much about this yet, but apparently there are homeopathic remedies that function like vaccines for illnesses like hep. if you are really worried about it, you could check it out (and let me know what you find out).
I would encourage you to go to china, its sucha wonderful place with amazing people. lots of little girls in need of homes. Its a shame that Chinese are gradually adopting western medicine.... but I guess that is inevitable.
I will not worry at all about bringing my 2 year old son to china without any vaccination. Even with his eczema issues (which are about 99% gone) he is so much healther than I am. At 2 he has never had an ear infection, no antibiotics or other drugs... and has only been sick a handful to times. His behavior and energy levels are unlike other kids. You can tell that he has a vitality that will protect him. So, I don't worry at all about it. These days the major cities in China are just as modern as anything in the US... so no worries, go and enjoy.
John
John
Thanks john! This is very encouraging.
There is so much negative info on the net about the 'hep problem' in china. Hard to know what to make of it..
Thanks for mentioning the homeopathic immunizations. I've heard of them but had completely forgotten. def something to look into.
ya, I feel so sorry for those abandoned little girls, to say the least....
I would really love to experience china. I hope to spend the next couple of years getting my liver into better shape, and if all goes well I may just roll the dice...
I also worry about the pollution though.. I hear it's pretty bad??
Sure pollution is bad, but if you go at the right time of year (not winter in the north), it shouldn't be too bad. Most of the big cities in China are very modern and you shouldn't have any problems... just avoid the deep hinterlands... still a bit backwards there.
China is a wonderful place, it will give you something to look forward to, to get in good shape. just focus on the big picture... Have you ever looked at the concept of miasm in homeopathy... I have woken up to this idea in realtionto chronic illness. Healing miasms is tricky business. Anyone with chonic health problems probably suffers from at least one of the several miasms. most drugs and mainstream treatments drive them deeper to more serious illness. I can tell now that I have been undoing my miasms for several years now, hopefully to the point where they are ready to pass away. In homeopathic terms, skin disorders are of the least serious illnesses...
John
I'm interested to hear about this, I thought you had to get vax to travel?
nope - the cdc has recommendations but they aren't mandatory.
i wouldn't HAVE to travel either necessarily.. only one rent needs to go.
Shari,
This is so exciting! I hope the paparazzi wont pull a Madonna on you, LOL! Really tho..I can't wait to hear that you have your babe with you!
lol, thanks :) well its going to be a while - i'm not ready yet!! i am thinking i may start the process a year from now. then it could be another 18-24 mos before we actually get a referral and make the trip.
of course, this all depends depends depends.. hopefully i will feel ready by then, cause i sure don't now.....
hubby and i have been talking about international/interracial adoption for like 15 yrs. now thx to madonna and angelina, it looks like we're trying to be trendy, lol - ugh!
lol..trendy adoptions. I'll have to start calling you brangalinadonna..
