Spores May Spark Allergies in Infants

Columbus Dispatch

6/20/06

Infants exposed to fungus spores early in life have a greater chance of developing allergies, a study by University of Cincinnati scientists has found. It’s the first study to link airborne fungal spores with a risk for multiple allergies in children. "There’s something happening down there early in life. Something is happening to the immune system predisposing people to (problems) later," said Mike Tringale, of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, in Washington, D.C. He called the new study a start but said it should be extended and more children should be included. Dr. Charity Fox, an allergist at the Ohio State University Medical Center, said factors such as dust mites, which feed on spores, cloud the issue and could be causing reactions themselves.

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