More Kids With Food Allergies Than Ever Before
In 2007, one in twenty-six children had a food allergy, compared with one in thirty in 1997.
Amy Branum, a statistition from the NCHS, said that eight types of food accounted for 90% of the allergies:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Wheat
The New York Times suggested that some of the reasons for the increase could be:
- The doubling in peanut allergies
- Children taking longer to outgrow milk and egg allergies than in the past
- A greater awareness of food allergies amongst parents and doctors, leading to an increase in diagnoses.
However, the study was conducted as a door-to-door survey, with parents being asked whether any of their children had a food allergy. The researchers did not check medical records, and they did not ask parents whether a doctor had made the diagnosis. This means that the results could be skewed, as the New York Times points out:
Some parents may not know the difference between immune system-based food allergies and digestive disorders like lactose intolerance, so it's possible the study's findings are a bit off, Branum said.
So what's the bottom line for you? If you suspect your child has a food allergy, get a medical professional to make that diagnosis. And remember that the majority of young children diagnosed with a food allergy go on to outgrow it.
18 Comments
Add Your Comment
ADVERTISING
New
- FROM DIET BLOG
- On-Off Fasting: Does It Work?
- 400 Calorie Fix
- 5 Factor World Diet
- Quick Giveaway: Powerhouse Weight Loss Game
- FORUM
- Low Carb Atkins Diet- Tips to Cut the Carbs.
- How Can I Gain a Healthy Weight and Keep it?
- How Do I Eat Healthy at University?
- Starving Myself and Exercising, But Not Losing an Ounce?
Categories
| Body Image Celebrities Diet Pills Diets Exercise |
Fast Food Funny Stuff Success Stories Teens and Kids Tips and Tools |
RSS Feed
Follow @DietBlog on Twitter
I think that this study is a little misleading it points out an increase of 18% in the rise of reported food allergies between the years of 1997-2007, but if you look at their chart you can see that from 1997 we seem to have a slow rise with minor statistical fluctuations that could be attributed to the already mentioned greater awareness in food allergies or the flaws in the door to door questionnaire.
This doesn't seem nearly as alarming as I think they want it to be.
ReplyI can't help wondering how many of these 'food allergies' have come about because the quality of our over-processed food (with all their additives, and colourants and things like transfats) and meat that comes from feedlot animals (with their growth hormones and antibiotics).
ReplyBingo! I think that's a BIG part of it...the other is we parents today are considerably more overprotective (helicopters) and reactive about every little thing concerning our children. We give them way too many antiobiotics, are way too quick to put tubes in their ears, take them way too often to the doctor, and the list goes on. Of course, severe allergies are different and need prompt medical attention, but as this post points out, kids may outgrow some of these allergies. Just like they can often get through an ear infection without antibiotics. I personally think my parents had more common sense about all this than I've had with my own children.
ReplyLet them play in dirt :-)
ReplyHa! My forty year-old younger brother, who is the healthiest member of our family, not only played in the dirt a lot...it was a big part of his diet!
ReplyKeeping our kids in a too-sterile environment has a big part in food allergies, if you ask me. If your body gets introduced to bacteria, it makes antibodies to them so don't get sick. If you don't get that exposure, your body develops an immune response to foods instead. I think when I was a kid, I actually ate an earthworm from the garden and I know my sister ate a real mud pie on a dare. We grew up having no allergies whatsoever, so maybe eating a little dirt isn't such a bad thing after all.
ReplyYou hit the nail on the head on this one. Not only are we 'too clean' but we also keep cleaning with chemicals. I've just cancelled my membership to a wellness club (read gym attached to a hospital) because they insist you have to wipe down the machines with chemical wipes after ever use. Frankly, I'd FAR rather take on human germs than chemical ones. I think our bodies cater for human germs much better than chemical ones!
Reply1 in 3 Infants BEGIN LIFE Fighting > the Progression of ALLERGY Disease !
FOOD Allergy ( 6-12 mo. ) is the FIRST Manefestation of What is Called > Allergy March.
The Increased Incidence of ALLERGY = Non Vigilance.
We believe that >
While Allergic ASTHMA Can NOT be Cured ...
It CAN Be Prevented !
And it STARTs Day 1 in a Genetically PreDisposed Infants Life !
It is Never To LATE to STOP Allergy March !
For Infants who are Genetically PreDisposed to ALLERGY….
>> 1 Allergy / Allergic Asthma Parent = 50% Odds
>> 2 Allergy / Allergic Asthma Parents = 75% Odds
>> O Allergy Parents = 10-15% Odds
It is IMPORTANT to be on ALLERGY Alert
as to the Emergence and Initial Symptoms of >
ALLERGY March.
Allergy March is the Clinically Proven Progression
of multiple Diseases caused by ALLERGY
as the Individual moves from Birth thru Life !
Beginning at BIRTH > “ UnTreated” ALLERGY = 24 / 7 / 365 / A LifeTime !
The Progression of Allergy MARCH / Disease Begins at BIRTH !
Rarely are initial signs of Allergy Nasal in Nature…
Rather…
ALLERGY initially emerges as Skin / Eczema, G.I. & Behavioral / Colic Issues
and is typically the Result of Allergy to FOOD.
STUDY: > Of Infants presenting with Moderate to Severe Eczema >
with a Mean Onset of Eczema at 12 Weeks…
86% were Allergy POSITIVE to at least 1 FOOD > 50% more than 1 Food.
Following the initial emergence of ALLERGY via FOODs ( Birth to 3 Yr ) …
UnTreated Allergy then migrates to a
Combination of FOOD and Environmental / Respiratory ALLERGY ( 3-6 Yr. )….
and unless addressed….
eventually the possibility of Allergic Asthma by 7 Yr.
It is IMPORTANT to Note….
that UnTreated Allergy March Does Not STOP at Allergic Asthma….
But rather Exacerbates / Continues ….
Leading to Unabated Disease Progression and a
LifeTime, Slippery Slope of further Diseases, Health Complications and
Severely Impaired Quality of Life ! ( Ouch ! )
It is NEVER to Late To STOP Allergy March !
While there is No Cure for Allergic Asthma ..
it is Possible to take measures to ReRail the Progression of Allergy Disease
that Leads to Allergic Asthma !
In Infants who are PreDisposed to Allergy….
Following a minimum 6 Months of BreastFeeding….
and IF Allergy Symptoms are present….
Do NOT Wait to See IF They Will OutGrow their Allergies / Symptoms …
Rather…
FOOD & Enviro Allergy Screening / Blood Test is suggested in the evaluation of moderate to severe Eczema in Infants as early as 6 – 12 Months.
Blood Screening is preferred because of minimal Infant Distress …
AND
Blood can Test For / Measure BOTH
Immediate IgE and Delayed ( IgG / IgG4 ) FOOD Allergy Sources.
Skin Only measures IgE / Immedciate.
Remember: Allergy Medications only Mask Symptoms ..
They Do NOT Address / Neutralize the Allergy Disease Source !
If FOOD Allergy is Present…
DIET is modified accordingly per your Physician / Dietitian Input.
If FOOD and Environmental Allergy is Present >
> Address FOOD via DIET
> Address Environmentals via
Child Friendly, Drug Free, Under-the-Tongue ImmunoTherapy DROPs.
DROPs are Custom, Clinically Formulated using
FDA Approved Extracts of What Infant is Allergic To !
Slowly over Time, Concentrations are Increased…
Allowing Immune System to ReCaliberate ItSelf…
Neutralizing Allergy / Allergens at Disease Source..
DeRailing the Progression of Allergy toward
Other Allergy Disease related Ailments i.e. Allergic Asthma and More !
Producing Lasting, If Not Lifetime Benefits !
ALLERGY is Nothing To SNEEZE AT !
While sounding Cute & Cuddly …
Do Not be Fooled by the inaccurate belief that Allergies
are just a Nuisance to be Outgrown, Ignored, Medicated or Put up with …
Rather….
Beginning at BIRTH…
ALLERGY is a Cumulative, Progressive Chronic Disease.
Which if Left UnTreated….
will Lead a Sufferer on a LifeTime, Slippery Slope of
Further Diseases, Health Complications & Compromised Quality of Life !
Suggest visit > DropYourAllergies.com …
BEGIN > Test / Identify / Know / Treat > ALLERGY
ReplyBreast feed your children!
ReplyI'm sure rampant, wide-spread (not to mention unnecessary) vaccination of babies has nothing to do with it. Note the sarcasm.
ReplyI don't know if vaccines have anything to do with the allergy problem, but I do think that perhaps, vaccination was a good thing that has gone a little too far at this point.
ReplyI was gonna say that! So much better coming from a doctor though :) We take everything too far.
ReplySeveral months ago I also read a report (sorry I can't find it or I'd link to it!!!) that suggested that women avoiding certain foods (like peanuts) while pregnant or breastfeeding could actually be exacerbating the problem...
Replyanya- the studies I've read say that it only makes an impact in cases where there is a family history of allergies.
ReplyI have to wonder how much of the increase is due to a greater awareness of allergies and their consequences. Whereas once the symptoms experienced by a sick or dying child might not have been tracked to allergies, we're a lot better at detecting them now. I'm not suggesting the entire increase is due to more awareness, but I wouldn't be surprised if a good portion of it is.
ReplyWhat about being allergic because of the quality of the food itself? Is it just me that sees this?
The quality of our foods is steadily declining and the amount of people developing allergies is increasing... hmm
Think about it... in this day and age we have to pay MORE money to buy food that is grown the way it's supposed to be grown (organically)
FlawlessFitnessBook.com
ReplyManufactured "food" accounts for the bulk of what many people eat. Today's "fake foods" are an amalgamation of ingredients. 20 or 30 years ago, a food product might have had six ingredients; today it has 30. The result is that every food has every allergen (so to speak).
I have three allergist verified food allergies and I am amazed at how many products contain multiple items or mixes (the classic is products labeled "may contain corn, canola, soy, sunflower or cottonseed oil").
Anyway, I suspect that even if the proportion of food allergic people stays fairly constant, the allergens themselves have been spread far more thoroughly resulting in the appearance of an increase in food allergies.
ReplyIf your "fake food" argument was true how does it account for the big dip in reported allergies for 5-17 year old's in 1999 ,and for lees than 5 years old in 2000. In both of those occurrences it drops below the start of the studies percentage.
Were we eating less "fake foods" those years Ed.
Reply