R: Dr Peterson. You’ve just published an article about allergies and the fact that they’re on the rise. Dr: Yes, that’s right. R: So. First of all, what kind of allergies are we talking about? Hayfever? Asthma? Dr: All allergies really. An allergy is a physical reaction to a substance. That reaction can be sneezing, an itching, sore eyes, feeling sick, a rash of some kind – like eczema – or breathing difficulties – like asthma. R: And are allergies on the rise? Dr: Oh yes. Absolutely. There’s no doubt about that. When I was at school there was only one boy in the class who had an inhaler. Now – thirty years later – more than half the kids in my daughter’s class have them. R: So, why the great increase? Is it our fault? Dr: Sometimes, yes. Either directly or indirectly. Our lifestyles have changed a lot, starting from birth. It’s a well-known fact that bottlefed babies are more likely to develop allergies than breastfed babies – yet fewer mothers breastfeed because they simply don’t have the time or because of practicalities – like wanting to share the feeding with a partner.