As many as one in every 12 kids in the United States may have a food allergy, according to a new study.
The latest study shows food allergies are more widespread than previously thought, and perhaps even more dangerous.
“Understanding how common it is and how severe it is, that’s important to note,” said Dr. Ruchi S. Gupta, pediatrician and researcher at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. “It’s very important that people understand that this is very real.
The survey of nearly 40,000 U.S. parents found that nearly eight percent of children under the age of 18, about six million of them, have a food allergy. Researchers also concluded that nearly 40 percent of those reactions are severe, and nearly one-third have sensitivities to more than one food, according to Gupta, lead author of a study published in the latest issue of the journal Pediatrics.
“The most common food allergy — of all children with a food allergy, the most common food allergy was peanut allergy. About 25 percent of kids had a peanut allergy,” Dr. Gupta said. “About 21 percent of kids with a food allergy had a milk allergy, and then shellfish. And then other common food allergy include egg, wheat, soy, fin fish and tree nuts.”
The question we want to know is – why? Why the increase in allergies?
That question is still being studied. But Dr. Gupta mentions some of the theories:
“Our immune systems aren’t able to fight the germs they used to fight, and so they are fighting things they shouldn’t be fighting, like food and environment. Other theories are about how our Western diet is today, how the foods, the pesticides, maybe it’s changing our gut flora, so we’re more susceptible to food allergy.”
Dr. Gupta said a large study is being conducted called the National Children’s Study which will follow children from before birth until 18. By collecting genetic material and environmental material, maybe one way, we will have the answers.
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3 Comments
Interesting.My son has suffered from food allergies since he was young.I am wondering if the way foods are processed has something to with this.
While dealing with food allergies in children is very important, I’ve noticed a few things:
1) There are some parents who assume their child has an allergy without actually having them properly tested. There is a very big difference between an allergy and an intolerance and it’s important you know which is which.
2) Have your children re-tested, allergies change, and will continue to change your whole life long. Sometimes you can stop being allergic to something, sometimes you will develop a new allergy, sometimes one can go away and then come back. There’s not enough talk about this.
3) Allergies aren’t just for kids! I’ve had allergies my whole life and my tree nut allergy went from livable to anaphylactic about 9 years ago. I’m all grown up now and can still die from a chocolate bar, so don’t assume allergies are outgrown. Sometimes they are, but sometimes you trade them for something else.
Awareness of allergies is so important, kids need to learn how to take care of themselves and should know what they can and can’t eat. They should know better than to take food without knowing what’s in it or where it came from, and should know that if they’re not sure, they shouldn’t eat it.
Thanks for the post, though, I had no idea the numbers on these. It’s pretty shocking how many kids have deathly allergies!
Interesting post! Dr. Gupta has a very good point here: “Our immune systems aren’t able to fight the germs they used to fight, and so they are fighting things they shouldn’t be fighting, like food and environment. Other theories are about how our Western diet is today, how the foods, the pesticides, maybe it’s changing our gut flora, so we’re more susceptible to food allergy.” My question is why most kids get peanut, shellfish or milk allergy than any other food?