Learn About Food Allergies

In the US, 1 in 13 children have a food allergy.

More than 40% of food allergic children have experienced a life-threatening reaction.

“My tongue feels like it has needles in it!!”

-- Food Allergic Child to Parent (right before their throat closes up and they pass out)

Research is underway to find better options to manage and treat food allergies, but currently the best options fall under the categories of prevention or therapy (to minimize reactions). There is no cure for food allergies. Both options have associated risks that parents have to decide to take for their children often before a child is even able to speak up or explain how they feel for themselves. If early prevention or therapy isn’t an option for a child then the only other option is a life of avoidance of the allergens.

Prevention:

Early exposure to potential allergens for infants to try to prevent allergies from developing in the first place.

Treatment/Therapy:

Oral immunotherapy (exposure therapy) where small amounts are given in a controlled setting to try to build up a child’s tolerance to a known allergen. The hope is this will eventually allow a normal consumption of the allergen with little to no reaction.

Avoidance:

For those whose allergies are too severe to consider the options above their families have to come up with plans to live their lives avoiding the allergens. Often the entire family has to avoid the allergens just to keep their child safe and minimize life-threatening risks. As the food allergic child gets older risks of exposure outside the home increase and every interaction has to start with a lesson on food allergies. This is why awareness and an understanding of food allergies is important for everyone, not just those suffering from the food allergies.

Learn more about my food allergy story: