Having multiple food allergies, Mae knows to avoid anything that will trigger a severe allergic reaction. 

Any food with peanuts, diary and egg is off limits for the eight-year-old. But what about the factors that could be fuelling allergies that we can’t always necessarily see?

A new study led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) has found being exposed to higher levels of air pollution from infancy was associated with increased odds of developing a peanut allergy and having the allergy persist across the first 10 years of life.

Living in Melbourne’s west, Eleanor Jenkin, Mae’s mother, said the findings showed why it was important to tackle air pollution.

Mae, 8, who has peanut, diary and egg allergies with her mum Eleanor

“There is a whole suite of reasons why we should be addressing air pollution and its link with peanut allergy just adds to that,” she said.

“Multiple factors are behind the allergy epidemic and if higher levels of air pollution are impacting the prevalence and persistence then that’s an important discovery for families.

“We want to see the quality of life improve for children living with allergies as well as fewer children having to go through what Mae has experienced. The more we know about how to prevent allergies the better.” 

Mae was diagnosed with the multiple food allergies at 8 months old after an allergic reaction saw her breakout in hives across her entire body. She has since gone onto have several anaphylaxis reactions.

Eleanor, who is also a member of the National Allergy Centre of Excellence Consumer Advisory Group, said the most severe episode occurred five years ago during a food challenge at The Royal Children’s Hospital to check Mae’s tolerance for adding egg back into her diet.

“She was eating cupcakes as part of the challenge until she started to refuse to eat anymore,” she said. We thought she was just being fussy, but she began vomiting and lost consciousness. It was her first anaphylaxis and while it was scary, she returned to her normal self a few minutes after being given an adrenaline shot.”

Since then, Mae has carried an EpiPen with her at all times.

Image: Mae has had several anaphylaxis reactions and carries an EpiPen

“We were hopeful she would grow out of the food allergies but now we have come to accept that Mae will be living with serious and ongoing allergies,” Eleanor said.

“Her allergies are always going to be in the back of her mind, influencing the decisions that she makes every time she eats at a restaurant, orders takeaway or goes to a birthday party. As a family we are learning to manage this new normal as best we can.”

Image: Mae will have a lifelong battle with food allergies, mum Eleanor says