Six Facts All Parents Need to Know About Food Allergies

Filed in archive Food Allergies , Living with Allergies on August 29, 2006

With schools re-opening, I see a lot of bulletins and reminders for parents on how to prepare their children for school. And as I've said in previous entries, for parents of kids with allergies, it can be an anxiety-filled time.

Here are six things you you need to know food allergies:

1. There is no cure for food allergies.
2. One in every 17 children under 3 has food allergies.
3. Eight foods account for 90 percent of all reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans etc.), wheat, soy, fish, shellfish (lobster, crab shrimp etc.)
4. Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital setting.
5. Food allergy reactions account for over 30,000 emergency room trips each year. It is estimated that 150 to 200 people die annually due to anaphylaxis from food allergies.
6. Approximately 2.2 million school-aged children have food allergies.

Maybe your kids don't have allergies. Lucky you. But there's a good chance that someone in your child's class or school has. Considering what you now know, please help make school a safe place for children with (food) allergies.