Food Allergies – Greater Awareness Is Critical
According to data from the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, every year there are over 30,000 anaphylactic episodes due to food allergies, with about 200 ending in death, often within minutes. They estimate that 1- 2% of all adults are allergic to food or food additives. Unfortunately, food allergies may still be under-diagnosed.
“The general public is becoming more aware of food allergies; however, we still have a lot to do. Too many people think food allergy is a personal preference or that symptoms can be mild or annoying. Food allergy is a medical condition and a public health concern. Most people who have a reaction ate something they thought was safe, so they don’t know how much they’ve eaten and can’t predict how severe the reaction will become,” said Anne Muñoz-Fur long, Founder and CEO of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) based in Fairfax, Virginia.
According to FAAN, peanut allergies in children have doubled since 1997. They put the rate of food allergy in the general population at 4%, including 3 million children – one in 17 children under the age of 3 has a food allergy. Many will outgrow their food allergies, but a 2007 study of 800 children showed that 30% had not outgrown their milk allergy by age 16.
Be prepared
Constant vigilance is the best plan of action. “There is no cure. Avoiding the food is the only way to prevent a reaction. Therefore, individuals who are affected depend on others to provide accurate ingredient information so that they can protect themselves,” said Ms. Muñoz-Furlong in an interview.
Children and adults should carry and know how to use a self-injectable pen filled with epinephrine in the event an allergic reaction leads to anaphylaxis. School administrators, especially the school nurse, should also be alerted to your child’s allergy. The FAAN web site offers an action plan with instructions for using two epinephrine devices, the EpiPen or EpiPen, Jr.for children,
An Ounce of Prevention…
Ticks thrive in humid wooded areas, areas with tall grass or lush bushes, and in large piles of leaves that are enticing to children. Ticks may be hard to avoid in many areas, but Lyme disease is highly preventable. Some precautions are easy to follow, and others may put a crimp in your summer style. However, it’s important to remember the best offense is still a good defense. For information on removing ticks, go to ChesapeakeFamily.com.
For tips on keeping ticks at bay, information on Lyme disease treatment or for a support group visit:
Lyme Disease Research Foundation