Original version

No Master Brand

BBC Afghan Radio

The Evidence

Factual: Science & Nature

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Claudia Hammond joins scientists and experts to explore science’s effect on our world

Claudia Hammond joins scientists and experts to explore the effect science has on the world around us

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

The Evidence: Is the world becoming more allergic?

Discussion & Talk

News

Is the world becoming more allergic?

30/09/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - The Evidence, Is the world becoming more allergic?

Are allergies still increasing in prevalence and can we prevent and treat them?

What are allergies and what is the purpose of them? They are increasingly common in towns and cities but are they still on the rise? Are we close to finding any cures?

In this episode of The Evidence on the BBC World Service, Claudia Hammond will be looking at allergies, which are becoming increasingly common in high income countries, and in towns and cities. Not only can they make life difficult and miserable, but some allergies can be dangerous and even life-threatening for some. 

Recorded with a live audience and made in collaboration with Wellcome Collection in London, Claudia Hammond and a panel of medical experts examine different types of allergies - from asthma to newly discovered allergies such as alpha-gal syndrome – and unpick the widely accepted view that allergies are still on the rise globally. 

Claudia will be asking what allergies are and what is the purpose of them? What can we do to try and prevent them? And what are the best ways of accurately and safely diagnosing them? The Evidence will also be looking at the latest cutting-edge research, which suggests that some possible cures are on the horizon.  

On stage with Claudia are Dr Paul Turner, Consultant Paediatric allergist at St. Mary’s Hospital in London; Carsten Flohr, who is Professor of Dermatology at St. John’s Institute of Dermatology at King’s College London; Professor Sejal Saglani, Director of the Centre for Paediatrics & Child Health at Imperial College, London and Professor Alexandra Santos, Professor of Paediatric Allergy at King’s College London. 

Producer: Helena Selby
Sound engineers: Alan Zani and Chris Banner
Production Co-ordinators: Siobhan Maguire & Liz Tuohy

Photo credit: Viktor Cvetkovic

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Evidence

Is the world becoming more allergic?

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Afghan Radio