Gut worms may help provide protection against allergy.Byline: ANI London, Sept 27 (ANI): A new study in Vietnam has found that parasitic gut worms like the hookworm hookworm, any of a number of bloodsucking nematodes in the phylum Nematoda, order Strongiloidae that live as parasites in humans and other mammals and attach themselves to the host's intestines by means of hooks. might help in the treatment of asthma and other allergies. Infection with hookworm and other parasitic worms is endemic in Vietnam, but rates of asthma and other allergies are low. A team of British and Vietnamese scientists observed the effects of worm clearing pills on almost 1500 children aged between six and 17. They found that children taking these tablets were more prone to develop house-dust mite allergy. However, the treatment did not really affect asthma or eczema. The researchers said the study suggests that gut worms can reduce the allergy levels in humans. The BBC BBC in full British Broadcasting Corp. Publicly financed broadcasting system in Britain. A private company at its founding in 1922, it was replaced by a public corporation under royal charter in 1927. quoted Dr Carsten Flohr, of the University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham is a leading research and teaching university in the city of Nottingham, in the East Midlands of England. It is a member of the Russell Group, and of Universitas 21, an international network of research-led universities. , as saying: "The next step is to understand exactly how and when gut parasites programme the human immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. in a way that protects against allergies, and for such studies, follow-up from birth will be essential." Scientists hope the findings of the study would lead to the development of treatments to tone down the responses of human immune system to allergens and thus reduce asthma attacks. "The prospects of further studies in this area are very exciting as we could see groundbreaking treatments for asthma and other allergies developed as a result," said Dr Elaine Vickers, Research Relations Manager at the charity Asthma UK Asthma UK is a British medical research charity dedicated to respiratory conditions and the curing of asthma[1]. The organization was known as National Asthma Campaign until May 2004 when it was renamed [1]. , which funded the research. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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