News Bits
Diagnosing Asthma from Saliva
British researchers have come up with a simple test that may soon be able determine whether or not a person has asthma – even if that person doesn’t have any asthma symptoms. Using a technology called liquid chromatography mass spectrometry they accurately identified asthma biomarkers from human saliva. The test can even tell how severe a person’s asthma is.
Not Your Brother's Food Allergy
Should the siblings of children with food allergies be tested for those allergies too? According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases the answer is no, and now a new study backs that up. Researchers from Chicago who tested 1,120 food allergic children and their siblings found that while 53% of the siblings had food sensitization, only 13.6% had a true food allergy. Testing could lead parents to deny their kids foods that they really aren’t allergic too.
Schools Fall Short
A new study from the American Lung Association suggests many schools are not up to par when it comes to providing good care for children with asthma. According to the report, too many students are not allowed to self-carry an asthma inhaler and don’t have ready access to back-up medication. Many go to schools that don’t have a nurse on staff during the school day as well.
Asthma Linked to Gene
Could a cure for asthma be on the horizon? If the findings from a study conducted by U.K. researchers are borne out, that could be a possibility. They have identified a gene that produces an enzyme that, when it goes rogue, attaches to the cells in the airways and causes the poor lung function common to the disease. If they can find a way to switch it off or prevent it from going rogue, many people could be breathing easier.
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