Food allergies less
common than parents think
Source of Article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/2008/feb/04/food-allergies-less-common-than-parents-think BMJ
Group, Monday 4 February 2008 Introduction
Many parents worry that food
allergies are becoming more common in children, but a large study has found
that their fears are unfounded. Only a small number of young children suffer
from food allergies, and the number affected has not changed in the last 20
years. What do we
know already?
Allergy to certain foods can
cause serious reactions in some people. When a person is allergic to a food,
their body mistakenly thinks that food is harmful and the body's immune
system launches a reaction. Symptoms can include a tingling sensation in the
mouth, swelling of the tongue and throat, difficulty breathing, rash, vomiting,
abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. Without treatment
some people can lose consciousness and even die. Many parents worry that their
baby or young child has an allergy to food because they get a rash, eczema,
vomiting or diarrhoea. These symptoms are very common
in young children. Previous studies have found
that less than a third of children and adults who go to their doctor with
symptoms of food allergy are in fact allergic. In some studies the number
found to have an allergy was less than 1 in 10. The present study was done to
try to gauge the true scale of allergy in children. What does the
new study say?
The study followed more than
800 babies over the first three years of their life. It found that only 58
children had a food allergy during these first three years. That's between 5
in 100 and 6 in 100 children. This is similar to what a Tell me about
the study's findings
Before their children were
tested for allergy, one-third of the parents said they thought their child
had a food-related problem. This shows many parents worry about food allergy
when there isn't a problem. The study also found that many
young children grew out of their allergy. By the time they were three years
old only 27 children were allergic to any food. That's 3 in 100 children
included in the study. The foods most likely to cause
an allergy were cow's milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, Brazil nuts and fish. But
by the time they were three years old, three-quarters of children who had
been allergic to milk no longer had a problem and half of those who had been
allergic to eggs had outgrown it. Where does
the report come from?
The study was done by researchers
from the How reliable
are the findings?
There are some problems with
the study. Only a small number of children had tests to confirm their
allergy. Although the proportion tested is similar to that in other studies,
it makes the results less reliable. One assumption in the study was
that children who tested positive to peanut or sesame at one year were still
allergic to these products at three years. They were not tested at two or
three years of age because it is thought that young children should avoid
these items if they are allergic. Some children might have outgrown their
allergy, but we don't know. What does
this mean for me?
If you're feeling anxious
because you've heard that food allergies are common among babies and
children, you can be reassured by the findings of this study. Only a small
number of children are allergic to food. And many who are allergic grow out
of it by the time they are three years old. But it's important to see your
doctor if you think your child has an allergy to any food as reactions can be
dangerous. What should I
do now?
If you think your child has had
an allergic reaction to a food it is important to get it checked out. Food
allergies can be dangerous. Your doctor should take any worries you have
seriously and order tests if he or she thinks these are necessary. If your child is diagnosed with
a food allergy you will be given advice on what to do. This will usually
involve avoiding the food or foods for some time. You may also need to carry
an injection of adrenalin with you in case your child has an allergic
reaction. You may be able to reintroduce the foods as your child gets older. But
don't do this without speaking to your doctor first. It could be dangerous. From:
Venter C, Pereira B, Voigt K,
et al. Prevalence and cumulative incidence of food hypersensitivity in the
first 3 years of life. Allergy. 2008; 63: 354-359. |
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