Aimee Howarth brings you an interview with The Yorker directors on the final day of the advent articles
Aimee Howarth speaks to YUSU's sabbatical officers about their Christmas Day routine for day 17 of the advent calendar
For the final time this term, Vicky Morris updates you on this weeks film news
50 years after the publication of 'James and the Giant Peach', the works of Roald Dahl continue to celebrate success.
Sun-worship seems to be a pretty ritualistic activity for most people desperately trying to tan. Whilst you will probably experience sunburn and perhaps even a lobster-like complexion, for a minority the sun is a thing to be avoided at all costs.
In severe cases this condition can lead to having to avoid the sun altogether.
Xeroderma pigmentosum (allergy to the sun) or more specifically to the ultra violet rays it emits. This condition is a recessive genetic disorder whereby the DNA that regulates skin renewal is mutated; it usually becomes apparent in children aged 1-2 years, but early signs of skin scaling on the face and legs can be discovered as early as six months.
Currently, there are approximately a hundred people diagnosed with this condition in the UK, and affects both males and females equally.
Xeroderma pigmentosum causes a deficiency in repairing skin cells that have been harmed by the sun, which may later result in cancer depending on the extent of the damage. In severe cases this condition can lead to having to avoid the sun altogether.
Symptoms include severe sunburn, freckles and blistering at minimum exposure to the sun; premature ageing and extreme dryness of the skin; painful eye irritations when exposed to the sun and oozing on the surface of the skin.
At present there is no medical cure for the condition and patients must take precautions to avoid exposure to sunlight. This has a significant impact on sufferers’ lifestyles and quality of life, as outdoor activities must be limited to night-time.
In addition, patients must use very high factor sun block and wear eye protection from UV light. Regular dermatological and neurological tests must also be carried out.
There are numerous psychological effects to be considered and many parents opt for counselling services, particularly if they are considering having another child. Counselling is also an option for children to help them cope with their condition in social situations and to understand more about XP.
Alcohol proves to be as essential as sunshine to the average student, but it is an extreme allergy for some.
People who are alcohol intolerant lack a specific enzyme that breaks down the alcohol into acetic acid. In some cases sufferers are simply allergic to an ingredient in alcohol and become more sensitive to its effects. Without this digestive capacity, alcohol can be toxic to our bodies.
Symptoms include nasal congestion, flushing of the skin, heart palpitations, headaches, itchy skin, and abdominal pain. Interestingly, people from Asian descent seem to suffer from unusually severe flushing even on consuming a small amount of alcohol.
As kiwi fruit consumption has steadily increased in the UK since the 1960s, more and more people are having allergic reactions to it. In the 1980s the allergy primarily affected adults, but in recent years young children have experienced reactions to the fruit. This could be because of our intolerance of exotic fruits, which threatens the body’s immune system.
Aizza Ishtiaq, allergic to the fruit, explained to The Yorker how it can cause serious reactions in certain people. She herself experienced "swollen throat, glands and eyes" on swallowing the fruit, and can’t even be near to it. Her symptoms get worse with continued consumption and she experiences vomiting. Symptoms can last between a few days to a week depending on the severity.
The well-known painkiller Calpol is probably the most memorable part of childhood illness, and was also the best thing about falling ill. However this syrupy mixture provokes startling allergies in some children.
Calpol is used to treat pain and fever in children from two months to 12 years old. A sufferer who has an allergy to Calpol told The Yorker that she experienced “nausea, dizziness and hallucinations that lasted about six to eight hours”.
When asked to expand on the severity of her hallucinations she said: “I only remember parts of it, like famous people talking to me. Once I had one where I thought Chuckie was trying to kill me!”
With the discovery of so many strange allergies on the rise, one can’t help but wonder what the situation will be in the future. Will children be walking around clad in protective suits punctured with the latest vaccination? Or scientists may find themselves battling it out with a superbug. We can only take an educated guess…
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