Food Allergies Impact The Entire Family

Food allergies can affect more than just food choices...Food allergies can affect more than just food choices...Food allergies can affect more than just food choices...Food allergies can affect more than just food choices. A recent study by Dr. Scott Sicherer of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine found that food allergy in children can greatly impact the entire family by increasing stress and limiting activities like going out to eat or spending time with friends. If you suspect your child has a food allergy, be sure to confirm this with an allergist certified by the American Board of Allergies and Immunology.

Eight foods are responsible for 90 percent of the allergic reactions in the U.S. They include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (including walnuts, pecans and almonds), fish, soy, shellfish and wheat. Between 6 and 7 million people (over half of them children) have been diagnosed with food allergy in the United States.

Food allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly believes the food is harmful. To protect itself, the body creates antibodies to that food. The next time the allergic person consumes the food, the immune system releases large amounts of chemicals and histamines that trigger various symptoms. Symptoms can include hives, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, swelling of mouth or throat, difficulty breathing, asthma, respiratory distress, and anaphylaxis (a severe and sudden reaction that can cause death). Between 100-200 people die each year from food allergy-related reactions.

Three tips to help you steer clear of potential problems...

1. Read before you eat. Teach your child to read nutrition facts, labels, and ingredient lists on all food products every time you buy them since manufacturers add or change ingredients without warning. Learn technical and scientific names for foods, for example, cow's milk can be listed as caseine, caseinate, calcium caseinate, sodium caseinate, curds, or whey. If you're unfamiliar with listed ingredients, call the manufacturer. If there is no ingredient list, it's best to avoid the product.

2. Plan ahead. When you dine out at a restaurant or eat at someone else's home, ask questions. Have your child choose simply prepared foods including broiled meats, baked potatoes, and steamed veggies, or bring some safe foods. Also, encourage your child to keep medications (if prescribed) on hand and wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace at all times.

3. Enlist support. Tell friends, teachers and baby sitters about your child's food allergies. This is especially important since most food reactions occur when children and teenagers are with their friends. For more information on food allergies, contact the Food Allergy Network at www.foodallergy.org.