Aaachoo! Understanding Childhood Allergies in China

Jul 8 was World Allergy Day! While not something you would usually celebrate, this holiday brings light to allergy diseases and issues facing millions of people across the globe, and is an interesting opportunity to compare how allergies stack up here in China.

Different countries have varying rates of food sensitivity based on environmental and dietary factors. For example, in one food sensitivity study, 22% of German participants were food sensitive as opposed to 11% of Spanish participants.

In China, recent studies have shown both the prevalence of food allergies and allergy diseases has been increasing in children in recent decades, and the foods that commonly trigger allergic reactions and allergic diseases in China are quite different compared to Western countries.

A deadly killer in the west, peanut allergies are extremely rare in China and most Asian countries

Defining Food Allergies

Food allergies (食物过敏 shíwù guòmǐn) are sometimes mistaken with food intolerance, food poisoning, and psychological barriers. Strictly speaking, however, food allergies evoke reactions from your immune system when it shouldn’t as opposed to food intolerances which are often digestive issues. Food allergies can range from mild to severe, and there are significant links between food allergies and genetics. It is generally ideal to visit a doctor for allergy tests if you think you have one. There are no cures for food allergies, so avoiding the allergen is the safest option.

The Big 8

The so-called ‘Big 8 Allergens’ are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soya. These allergens account for 90% of all food allergies in the United States, and must be labeled on the packaging of processed foods in much of the west, including America, the EU, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

However, when it comes to peanut and shellfish allergies, the prevalence is almost reversed between China and the West:

Peanut Allergies

The most common allergies out of these 8 are peanuts, which are largely responsible for the increasing rates of food allergies in developed countries. Peanut allergies have reportedly doubled in diagnoses from 1997 to 2003 in the United States. In China and most Asian countries however, peanut allergies are especially rare, which may be due to the fact that Asian children are more likely to be exposed to peanuts at a young age. If you have a peanut allergy in Beijing, you may have been warned about how often peanut oil is used in Chinese cooking, but studies have actually shown it is generally safe for those with peanut allergies to consume peanut oil. If you are unsure, check with an allergist. Learn more about dealing with peanut oil with a peanut allergy by scanning the QR code below.

Milk and Egg Allergies

In a study conducted across Chinese schoolchildren, the most sensitive food allergens recorded were milk, egg, shrimp, wheat, and kiwi. Egg and milk proved to be common allergies for both Chinese and Western children, while one study indicated Asian children were even more sensitive to eggs. However, both milk and egg allergies are less common among older children and adults.

Fancy a smoothie? Like in the west, diary allergies are more common among children than adults in China, however more adults are found to be lactose intolerant

Shellfish and Fish

Shellfish and fish allergies, especially shrimp allergies, are the leading food allergen in many Asian countries and are most common among older children and adults. This could be a result of how integral seafood is to most Asian cuisines. The prevalence of shrimp allergies in Asia provides a stark contrast with the West, where seafood-related allergies are very uncommon.

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Overall

It has been shown that developed countries typically have higher allergy rates compared to developing ones. This goes the same for food allergies. Data recorded from 2018 shows that US children have a 7.6% food allergy rate within a year, while children from Hong Kong have 2.8% food allergy rate.

Respiratory and Skin Allergies

Aside from the Big 8, other prevalence of common respiratory and skin allergies, often defined as allergic diseases continues to rise. Studies show that whereas the number of allergic diseases are stabilizing in Western countries, there has been an escalation in China within the last decade. Allergic diseases are also frequent among children; a WAO (World Allergy Organization) survey conducted across 1.2 billion children found 250 million (21%) with allergic diseases. Asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema are three of the most common allergy diseases among children.

Allergic Asthma

Asthma  (哮喘 xiāochuǎn) is a chronic condition that causes breathing difficulties. Allergic asthma occurs during an allergy season, or when someone is exposed to allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, air pollution, and so on. The dreaded catkin season every spring in Beijing triggers many allergic reactions including asthma.

Allergic Rhinitis/Hay Fever

Allergic Rhinitis (过敏性鼻炎 guòmǐn xìng bíyán), commonly known as Hay Fever is usually divided into seasonal and perennial rhinitis. Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (季节性鼻炎 jìjié xìng bíyán) are allergy symptoms that accompany the change of seasons, while perennial rhinitis (常年性鼻炎 chángnián xìng bíyán) as the name suggests, lasts year-round. Allergens that stimulate Rhinitis commonly include grass pollen and dust mites. 80% of children with asthma also have allergic rhinitis, as having one allergic disease increases the likelihood of having other allergic diseases. You can find accessible treatment options by scanning the QR code below.

In China, seafood and shellfish allergies are extremely rare, which may be due to the prevalence of these foods in national cuisine

Allergic Eczema

Eczema (湿疹 shīzhěn) is a skin allergy which develops an itchy skin rash subsequent to contact with allergens. Common triggers involve nickel, perfume, dyes, latex, and cleaning products.

Explaining Your Food Allergies in China

Having an allergy paired with a language barrier can be frustrating, and even downright dangerous. That’s why we included common and useful phrases in Chinese for dealing with situations concerning your allergy. We also recommend preparing some flash cards explaining your allergies, so you can easily show them to servers if necessary.

• 我对花生过敏。 Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn. I’m allergic to peanuts.

• 这个菜有花生吗？Zhège cài yǒu huāshēng ma? Does this dish have peanuts?

• 你们用花生油吗？Nǐmen yòng huāshēngyóu ma? Do you use peanut oil?

• 如果我吃到花生我会死，所以请不要用花生！Rúguǒ wǒ chī dào huāshēng wǒ huì sǐ, suǒyǐ qǐng bùyào yòng huāshēng! If I eat peanuts I will die, so please don’t use peanuts!

• 我对X严重过敏，请不要添加X wǒ duì X yánzhòng guòmǐnwo, qǐng bù yào tiānjiā X I have a serious allergy to X, please could you not add X.

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Images: Uni You, Pexels