Food Allergies and Children - An Overview for Parents
You may have a child that has food allergies or know of a child that has food allergies. This condition can be very serious and even life threatening. We understand that food allergies are not easy to manage. As of today, there is no cure for it and because food allergies can vary from child to child there is no one solution on how to best manage it.
One of the challenges families face is that many people don’t really understand food allergies. This condition affects more children than you think and it is worthwhile to learn about it. Every year, around the second week in May, is Food Allergy Awareness Week. It’s a perfect time for parents and children to learn more about food allergies and take the fear and mystery out of it.
Our goal is to provide a positive approach to understanding food allergies and provide tips and resources that will help parents, teachers and other adults manage this condition easier.
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN):
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An estimated 3 million children have a food allergy
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One in every 17 children, under the age of three, has a food allergy
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Peanut allergy doubled in children over a five-year period (1997-2002)
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Even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction
How long will food allergies last?
There is some good news about food allergies. Children often outgrow the food allergy during early childhood.
It is estimated that 80% to 90% of egg, milk, wheat and soy allergies go away by the age of five years.
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