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Member Since: 1/2006Last Seen: 11/28/2009

Gut worms protect against allergy

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Parasitic gut worms, such as hookworm, might aid the development of new treatments for asthma and other allergies, a study in Vietnam suggests.

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{"commentId":9743311,"authorDomain":"redwolf"}

Infection with hookworm and other parasitic worms is endemic in Vietnam, but rates of asthma and other allergies are low.

British and Vietnamese scientists gave local children treatment to clear their body of worms.

They found this led to an increase in dust mite allergy among the children.

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Reply#1 - Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:43 AM EDT
{"commentId":9750409,"authorDomain":"megidoloan"}

I can't help but wonder if it was the medication that was given that contributed to the allergies. People in that part of the world probably don't take medication on a regular basis like we do and may have a stronger response to it. Those medications (benzimidazoles) work by blocking the uptake of glucose and inhibiting the growth of certain microorganisms, and I wonder what role that could play in developing allergies.

Of course, I'm not a pharmacist, a doctor, or a scientist, so I could just be talking out of my butt there. Just thinking out loud.

But me, I'd rather have the allergies than know that there are worms crawling around in me!

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    Reply#2 - Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:48 PM EDT
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