About.com Food Allergies

4% of U.S. children have food allergies, study finds

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:09:24 +0000

A new study in the journal Pediatrics has found that approximately 4% of U.S. children under age 18 have a reported food allergy.

The researchers came to their conclusion after reviewing data from various government-run health surveys over the last several years.

They also determined that the number of cases of food allergies increased 18% from 1997 to 2007. However, the authors of the study note that the cause of this rise is unclear; it could be that some of this increase is related to increased awareness (and diagnosis) of food allergies by doctors and parents, rather than more kids developing allergies.

4% of U.S. children have food allergies, study finds originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 14:09:24.

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Unusual Food Allergies: Your Thoughts?

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:00:00 +0000

A recent article in the Baltimore Sun by an author with a honeydew allergy made me think of some of the reader correspondence and forum threads about unusual food allergies.

Estimates are that about 90% of allergies are to the so-called "big eight" (dairy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, and soy), which means that at least 10% of people with allergies can't eat a food other than this group. The actual number of people with less common allergies is likely significantly higher, since many people are allergic to more than one food.

If you tell waitstaff at restaurants about your uncommon allergy, do you feel you get the same treatment and understanding that you'd expect for disclosing a severe nut allergy? Are you frustrated with poor disclosure on ingredient labels? Consider this an open thread on less common food allergies.

Unusual Food Allergies: Your Thoughts? originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 21:00:00.

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Vitamin D and Allergies

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:46:25 +0000

By now you've probably heard of a recent study in the journal Pediatrics that's been the subject of a great deal of buzz: about 70% of kids in the U.S. aren't getting enough Vitamin D. Vitamin D, which is produced naturally during sun exposure and can be found in some fish and in supplemented foods like milk and some breakfast cereals, is known to be crucial for building bones and protecting against diseases like type 2 diabetes.

This study has possible ramifications for food allergies -- a 2007 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology noted that EpiPen prescriptions and prescriptions for other allergy and asthma medications were highest among children in the New England states. The study posited that inadequate Vitamin D intake in areas with longer, colder winters might account for the difference.

The takeaway? Ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure (sans sunscreen) per day is sufficient for your body to generate levels of Vitamin D that are currently considered adequate. It's a worthy goal and just may help in preventing the development of allergies.

About.com Allergies: Vitamin D Deficiency Causes Allergies and Asthma
CNN: Vitamin D Deficiency Common in U.S. Children

Vitamin D and Allergies originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 at 20:46:25.

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Allergy Awareness: The Good, The Bad & The Clueless

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:31:48 +0000

A new study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology examines allergy awareness among the general public and finds some encouraging signs -- plus some places where knowledge could be better.

The good: Despite the inevitable flame wars that break out on message boards, blogs, and newspaper sites whenever the thorny topic of nuts in school is on the agenda, programs and policies designed to protect allergic kids in school are mostly popular. Some 85% of adults support action plans in school aimed at protecting allergic children, although nut-free tables and classrooms are more contentious. Also good: the vast majority of subjects (95%) recognize that food allergies can be deadly.

The bad: Many people believe that food allergies can be treated medically, through daily medicine or through some type of cure, rather than by a strict allergen-free diet. So while most people recognize the importance of avoiding reactions, many may not be aware that you need to be careful about your diet all the time.

There's also still broad confusion about the difference between food allergies and food intolerances. If you have a severe food intolerance, you may find that people say you have an allergy if you try to explain your condition.

Do these findings reflect your experience? What's the one thing you'd want people who don't have allergies to know? Vote in the poll and share your own experiences in the comments.

Newswise: Food Allergy Knowledge Found Lacking in General Public

Allergy Awareness: The Good, The Bad & The Clueless originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 at 09:31:48.

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New Research: An Allergy Gene?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:47:27 +0000

A study in the July issue of BMJ reviews research on a gene controlling the protein filaggrin. Defects in this gene are strongly associated with eczema, an allergic skin condition. Researchers noted that defects in this gene are related to allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and in the development of asthma in those with atopic eczema.

What is less clear -- and what researchers noted as a subject for further study -- is whether this gene is related to food allergies. It is believed that there is a genetic component to food allergies, as having a close relative with food allergies or another atopic condition is a strong risk factor. It's also known that people with one allergic condition are predisposed to others later in life, a phenomenon known as the "atopic march." Still to be determined is whether, and how, genes interact with environmental factors to cause allergies.

_{Rosanne A H M van den Oord and Aziz Sheikh, "Filaggrin Gene Defects and Risk of Developing Allergic Sensitisation and Allergic Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis." BMJ. 2009;339:b2433.}

New Research: An Allergy Gene? originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Monday, July 20th, 2009 at 22:47:27.

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Taking Care of Business

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:57:22 +0000

Wise words in this column from the Boulder Daily Camera:

I often hear from people who are upset that others have not catered to their allergenic needs. It really is up to all of us to take care of ourselves. By taking a step with positive behavior (and delicious food) you just might educate some people how easy it is to make delicious, non-allergenic foods.

My go-to strategy for dealing with workplaces that were big on celebrating with food was to keep my own "secret stash" in the kitchen or at my workstation -- allergy-safe cookies or treats I could bring out when the weekly birthday/holiday/TGIF cake came out. It helped me feel normal and eliminated the "I feel so weird that you can't eat anything" I'd get before I started doing that. Beyond that, I've made it a practice for years to eat at least a little bit before I go into any food situation that might be the least bit dicey -- meetings, parties, you name it.

Do you disclose your allergies at work? Have you ever had a negative (or a surprisingly positive) reaction from a supervisor or coworker?

Taking Care of Business originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 22:57:22.

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Will the New Swine Flu Vaccine be Safe for Folks with Egg Allergy?

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:08:19 +0000

Some batches of the swine flu vaccine being prepared by Novartis for the 2009 flu season will not include eggs in their production. Rather, they will use a so-called cell-culture process, which doesn't require eggs during any stage of the manufacturing process. However, due to high demand for the new vaccine, it is almost certain that existing manufacturing plants that use eggs to culture inactive viruses for vaccines will continue to produce some doses of flu vaccines for the upcoming flu season.

It is, as yet, unclear whether doctors will be able to specifically request egg-free vaccines for patients with egg allergies. If you do have a severe egg allergy, you and your doctor will need to decide whether the potential risks of a flu vaccine outweigh the benefits of protection against the flu. Some possible alternatives include skin testing to the vaccine itself to see whether a reaction is likely, getting the vaccine in an allergist's office to ensure that emergency treatment is available in the event of a reaction, or having close contacts vaccinated to lower the likelihood of contracting the flu and taking an antiviral such as Tamiflu or Relenza at the first sign of flu symptoms. Your doctor can help you decide which option is best in your particular case.

Egg Allergies and Vaccines

Drug Giant Uses Cells To Make H1N1 Vaccine

Will the New Swine Flu Vaccine be Safe for Folks with Egg Allergy? originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Sunday, July 5th, 2009 at 11:08:19.

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Managing Allergies at Weddings

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:54:07 +0000

I attended a wedding this weekend where guests' allergies were addressed in a discreet -- yet effective -- way. The caterers had marked the place cards with codes for different dietary needs (PA for peanut allergy, GF for gluten-free, V for vegetarian) so that at a glance, everyone who served anything to someone at a seat could tell whether there were any unique needs at the table.

While I've been to catered events that were responsive to dietary needs and worked with caterers that were unusually knowledgeable about allergies and other restricted diets, this was one of the most clever and effective solutions I've seen for balancing the need to get meals out efficiently and to indicate who needed the few special plates the kitchen had prepared. Highly recommended if you're planning a wedding where not everyone can eat off a set menu!

Managing Allergies at Weddings originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Saturday, June 27th, 2009 at 22:54:07.

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The Good Parent

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:46:03 +0000

I can't seem to turn around on the Interweb these days without reading a breathless essay about how there's a spate of "revolutionary books!" about parents being daring and confessing just how bad they are because they a.) let their kids watch a ton of television, b.) put headphones on their bellies so their kids can listen to the Ramones in the womb, c.) fail to sign their kids up for five million classes, d.) all of the above and more. It's all a little silly from my (decidedly unscientific) perspective because I don't know a perfect parent and I don't know a parent who isn't at least trying their best.

I was thinking about that phenomenon when I read Heather Legg's recent essay on Beyond Allergy about how her own precautions with her child had changed over the years. I thought it was both an interesting take on letting go as kids get older and the worries every single parent has over the decisions they make that affect their kids' futures. Go read it!

The Good Parent originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at 10:46:03.

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Food Allergies In the News

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:35:21 +0000

Two articles to share with you today:

Via the Washington Post, an explanation of food allergy immunotherapy featuring interviews with Robert Wood, Hugh Sampson, Wesley Burks, plus families who have undergone experimental immunotherapy treatments: Peanuts, Anyone?
Via the Times Herald-Record, another for the "articles to send people who need to understand more about food allergies" file: a concise FAQ about everything from whether (and why) the prevalence of food allergies is rising to common warning signs of an allergic reaction: Pediatrician on Allergies: 'Parents Need to Watch Their Children Closely'.

Food Allergies In the News originally appeared on About.com Food Allergies on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 21:35:21.

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