Feature: Food Allergies: What Parents Need to Know
L L E A R G D I O E S O F at Parents Need to Know : Wh
By Dana Greyson
“I hope I never see an article again about a kid who went to a party, ate the wrong chocolate chip cookie, and died. You [have to] keep bringing it up. It’s horrible. You can never let your guard down.” – George Green,* father of a son with severe peanut and tree allergies
ALLERGY FACTS • More than 170 foods are reported to cause allergic reactions. • Eight major food allergens: milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and crustacean shellfish are responsible for most of the serious food allergy reactions in the United States. • Nearly 8% of Americans under age 18 have food allergies; one in thirteen children or about 2-3 per classroom. • Food allergies in children increased by 50% between 1997 and 2011 • U.S. children diagnosed with peanut or tree nut allergies more than tripled between 1997 and 2008. 22
One Family’s Peanut Butter Nightmare Who knew an innocent peanut butter sandwich would become a life changer for a normally happy-go-lucky 1-year-old? George and Laurel Green*, of Vancouver, weren’t expecting what happened next. When Jimmy, their son, suddenly became uncharacteristically lethargic, Laurel became alarmed. She called 911, “Give him a Benadryl right away!” the dispatcher ordered. “And get him to an allergist.” Jimmy’s initial allergic response was typical—frightening, but not deadly. The first exposure doesn’t generally lead to anaphylactic shock. However, Dr. Sanjeev Jain of the Columbia Asthma and Allergy Clinic observes, “Lately, we see many kids come to us after they have had an anaphylactic reaction to a food such as peanut.” The Greens are constantly on the lookout for allergen warnings. Jimmy’s dad, George, elaborates, “The same candies that are allergenfree in Canada are not in the United States. Papa Murphy’s used to be OK. Then, there was an allergen alert. For years it was off-the-table. Now, it’s OK again.”
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • October 2019
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