Kids Food Allergies On The Rise

"Food allergies are real," says Dr. Jennifer Appleyard, chief of allergy and immunology at Detroit's St. John Hospital and Medical Center. "And it appears that the prevalence is rising." From 1993 to the present, the rate of kids food allergies has increased 18%, according to recent reports. During that same time, the number of kids who needed emergency medical attention because of an allergy tripled. This has parents feeling paranoid about what their children might be exposed to at daycare, school or on field trips, Appleyard adds.

Milk (12%), peanuts (9%), eggs (7%) and shrimp (5%) are the most common food allergies in children. In other cases, kids may be allergic to tree nuts, soy, fish and wheat. Food-related allergy symptoms run the gamut from a mild tingling sensation in the mouth, hives, diarrhea or stomach cramping to more serious vomiting, difficulty breathing and tongue swelling. The National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases states that fatal allergic reactions are extremely rare, with only about 100 deaths per year associated with a food-related emergency. Of all the foods, peanut allergies are probably the most dangerous.

To diagnose kids food allergies, the doctor will ask parents about their child's food allergy symptoms and may ask them to keep a food diary to monitor the reactions. The doctor may ask parents to remove suspected foods from the child's diet one at a time to rule out certain allergies. There will be a blood test to look for Immunogloblin E antibodies. A negative result can help rule out food allergies, although a positive result doesn't necessarily mean the child has the allergy. A skin prick test involves placing small amounts of suspected food allergens on the skin of the child's forearm or back and pricking the skin with a needle to allow the substance to get beneath the skin. If there is an allergy, a raised bump or small rash will appear.

Perhaps blood tests for kids food allergies fail because they cannot distinguish between similar proteins in different foods. For instance, a child with an allergy to peanuts may also test positive for kidney bean, green bean, pea and soy allergies. Similarly, a child with a milk allergy may also test positive for a beef allergy. Dr. David Fleischer tells parents the best indicator may be simply to note whether the child has tolerated a particular food in the past. In some cases, intolerance to a specific food develops over time, which is different than a serious, life-threatening allergy. Also, many food allergies (such as milk, eggs, soy and wheat) can be outgrown, so food challenging tests should be done again over time.

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