Allergy figures soar while Australian boys are significantly more prone to peanut intolerance than girls

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The Bureau of Statistics showed that 71,000 boys, aged between two and 18, suffered peanut allergy or intolerance - compared to 39,000 girls
Doctors were unable to properly explain why there was a higher rate of peanut allergies in boys
About four million people, including 560,000 children, reported avoiding a food type because of allergy or intolerance, according to the Australian Health Survey

Published: 03:01 EST, 18 May 2014 | Updated: 04:48 EST, 19 May 2014

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Recent Australian data shows that 32,000 more boys suffer from peanut allergies than girls.

It was revealed around 71,000 boys, aged between two and 18, have a peanut allergy or intolerance compared to 39,000 girls, according to figures from the Bureau of Statistics.

But doctors have failed to pinpoint why this is the case.

Allergy mystery: 71,000 boys aged between two and 18 suffer peanut allergy or intolerance, compared to 39,000 girls, according to Bureau of Statistics figures

Robert Loblay, the allergy unit director of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the significant gender difference was a 'mystery'.

He added the biggest increase in allergies in the past 15 years had been in peanuts and tree nuts.

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'Twenty years ago, we hardly ever saw a child with a peanut allergy, maybe one every year. Now, we see 900 to 1,000 kids each year,' he said.

Brad Frankum, an Australian Medical Association vice-president and consultant immunologist, offered one explanation for the higher rate of peanut allergies in boys.

Significant rise: Doctors have seen a dramatic rise in allergies in the past 20 years, and are unable to explain why this has taken place

'It can't be explained by exposure to peanuts or boys being more likely to eat them. It has to be something to do with genetic susceptibility. True food allergies in children is a genetic-based problem,' he said.

Findings from the Australian Health Survey, released last week, showed that an estimated 4 million people, 560,000 being children, reported avoiding a particular food type due to allergy or intolerance.

Although boys are significantly more prone to nut allergies, roles reversed when it came to gluten and dairy.

More than 35,000 girls reported an intolerance to gluten, as opposed to 14,600 boys.

About 4 per cent of girls have a dairy intolerance whereas 3 per cent were boys.

Dr Loblay said there were complicated reasons behind the rise in cases but said it most likely comes down to changes in diets.

And as nut allergies persist into adult life, he believes the rate of anaphylactic reactions and hospitalisations would also increase unless more was done to raise public awareness.