Peanut allergies in children have tripled since 1997, and continue to rise, according to national surveys. But there is good news: recent landmark studies (including the LEAP and EAT trials) have shown that up to 80% of peanut allergies can be avoided with the early introduction ...read more
Halloween is a little over a week away. While the food allergy ghosts and goblins might be excited, most food allergy parents are more than a little nervous. In fact, many food allergic kids do not participate in trick or treating at all. However, this year can be different. With ...read more
On May 1, 2010, ALL New York ambulances will be required to carry adult and pediatric doses of epinephrine on-board. Until that date, only ALS (advanced life support) ambulances carried this life-saving medication for those who suffer from anaphylactic allergic reactions. ...read more
If you are a newly diagnosed food allergic individual, it can be overwhelming figuring out where to go for information and support. There are a variety of websites, support groups and blogs that offer a plethora of detailed information. There are also several food allergy related ...read more
It wasn't long ago that there were only a handful of picture books for children that discussed food allergies. With the rise in food allergy diagnosis, this is no longer the case. Within the past year or two, several picture books have hit the market with a wide range of themes ...read more
You've made your summer camp choice. The hard part is over right? Not so fast. Now is the time to put a plan in place to make sure your food allergic child has a great (and reaction free) summer camp experience. 1. Get your paperwork in order It's important to fill out your camp ...read more
Choosing a summer camp can be a daunting task for parents of food allergic children. Some wonder whether summer camp can be safe for their child. Following is a list of helpful tips to help you get started on choosing the right summer camp. 1. Start a year in advance It may seem ...read more
Living with food allergies can be difficult in more ways than one. From reading labels and choosing foods, to eating out at restaurants or the homes of non food allergic friends. It's no wonder why many choose to cook or bake at home. Thankfully food allergy moms and chefs are ...read more
Many food allergy related deaths are the result of the lack of access to epihephrine-a life saving medication. Some people do not know they have a food allergy, do not think their allergy is that severe, or feel they are capable enough of avoiding foods that cause reactions. ...read more
Oral Allergy Syndrome, also known as OAS, is caused by a cross-reaction between plant proteins from pollen, and fruits or vegetables. When an individual with a pollen allergy eats a fresh fruit or vegetable, the immune system sees a similarity between the pollen and the ...read more
A food allergy is defined as an immune system response to a food protein. A food intolerance is a digestive system response. The problem is that food intolerance and food allergy symptoms can be similar causing many people to believe they have a food allergy without seeking ...read more
Studies show there have been a significant increase in food allergies, yet there are skeptics who believe the numbers are wrong. Some studies are based on surveys with no proof of any actual food allergy diagnosis. Individuals often can confuse food dislikes and intolerances with ...read more
If you are dealing with food allergies, you've probably become quite familiar with the term “Safe Foods”. However, there is truly no definition of what a safe food is and each person has his or her own comfort level regarding what they consider to be safe. The forum here at ...read more
The 12th annual Food Allergy Ball was held this past Monday at the Waldorf Astoria. The Food Allergy Ball is an annual event, run by The Food Allergy Initiative, to raise money for food allergy research and a cure. This years event was attended by several notables including ...read more
When faced with a potential food allergy diagnosis, allergists use two types of tests to determine whether a patient is allergic. While history of reaction to an allergen is the only surefire way to determine a true allergy, skin prick and blood tests are also used. This article ...read more
When dealing with food allergies, it is important to be aware of foods that have been recalled due to incorrect information on the label. This is still voluntary for companies to do, but there has certainly been an increase over the years of food manufacturers putting out an ...read more
The only sure fire way to determine a food allergy is a history of reaction to the food. However there are times when a person might not know the exact food that is the causing the reaction. This is when allergy testing comes into play. There are two types of allergy tests; skin ...read more
Many people wonder if they can get a flu vaccine when they also have an egg allergy. While there may be small amounts of egg protein in flu vaccines, they are safe for most egg allergic individuals. The process of making the flu vaccine involves incubating the virus in an egg. ...read more
Last week, more than 80 food allergic kids from 23 states converged on Washington DC. They were there to talk to legislators about living with food allergies and the need for more funding for research and education. They were also there to request that elected officials pass the ...read more
Adults and children with food allergy fall under the Americans With Disabilities Act. This act requires that accommodations be made to ensure that individuals are not denied access to employment, education, government services, transportation, businesses and any other entities ...read more
I have been surprised at the number of alternative medical doctors on-line who have come out against the swine flu vaccine. Dr. Mercola has had several articles on his website (mercola.com). He has called it a fictional pandemic, very possibly a manmade virus. It says that the ...read more
FAAN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) has created another way to educate young people about food allergies. Junior, Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts can earn the Be A Pal patch (http://www.foodallergy.org/Girl_scouts_badge.pdf) to learn about peanut and other food allergies. ...read more