MishpishWhy are there more kids with peanut allergies?
June 25th 2008 02:22
That's the $64,000 question, and no one has come out with a confident answer. Researchers have pointed to two likely theories behind the rise in severe peanut allergies in children:
1. Genetic predilection
2. Increasing exposure to processed foods.
It almost brings us back to the nature vs nurture debate. Children are born allergic or they are raised to be allergic through constant eating and exposure to processed foods. Of course, it could be a mix of both that is causing the increased incidence of food allergies.
Another theory (not as common) that is discussed points to diagnosis. That perhaps previously the same number of children are developing these allergies, but they were never diagnosed.
Some argue that it's actually the opposite: it's a case of misdiagnosis. Children are more likely these days to receive skin-prick tests. If they react to peanut (or other allergens) they are deemed highly allergic or even anaphylactic, without ever having a reaction (or just a minor reaction).
An article from the Boston Globe states "According to Anne Munoz-Furlong, a researcher and the founder of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, an advocacy group, today about 25 percent of parents believe that their children have food allergies, although only about 4 percent really do. A parent may suspect one after a few spit-ups or a screaming fit following a new food. Yet these are rarely true allergies. And even among children with true allergies caused by harmful IgE, only a tiny fraction will have life-threatening reactions, called anaphylaxis."
It is because of this that I'm not offended when educators and health practitioners ask me if my daughter has ever had an anaphylactic episode. I can say confidently that yes, she has. They then go on to question me how I know. I explain the wheezing, swollen face and that it took an injection of adrenaline to stop it from killing her. But many parents are told that their children have this allergy. No one wants to see their child in a life-threatening situation, so they avoid the allergen.
Although different studies point to different conclusions, parents themselves can see that there has been an increase. We all grew up with peanuts, peanut butter and the like. I don't remember as a child ever being aware of it making any of my friends sick. I've spoken to enough parents who have children with severe allergies to know that their child's condition is real and not a result of misdiagnosis. Therefore something is making it increase.
The one thing that is clear is that researchers and doctors don't really know much about how to prevent, handle or decrease food allergies. The popular theory to prevent peanut allergies is to avoid peanuts during pregnancy. To this day no one believes me when I tell them that the thought of eating peanuts made me sick when I was pregnant with my daughter. AND I LOVE PEANUTS. Even back then I suspected something. With my first pregnancy I subsisted on peanut butter, and my first child has no such allergies.
In fact research trying to show that avoidance of allergens during pregnancy helps prevent their liklehood has shown nothing of the sort. Doctors and those in clinical immunology are the first to admit that there's still a long way to go, and much to be done. But at least they're working on it.
1. Genetic predilection
2. Increasing exposure to processed foods.
parents just want to keep their kids safe
Another theory (not as common) that is discussed points to diagnosis. That perhaps previously the same number of children are developing these allergies, but they were never diagnosed.
Some argue that it's actually the opposite: it's a case of misdiagnosis. Children are more likely these days to receive skin-prick tests. If they react to peanut (or other allergens) they are deemed highly allergic or even anaphylactic, without ever having a reaction (or just a minor reaction).
An article from the Boston Globe states "According to Anne Munoz-Furlong, a researcher and the founder of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, an advocacy group, today about 25 percent of parents believe that their children have food allergies, although only about 4 percent really do. A parent may suspect one after a few spit-ups or a screaming fit following a new food. Yet these are rarely true allergies. And even among children with true allergies caused by harmful IgE, only a tiny fraction will have life-threatening reactions, called anaphylaxis."
It is because of this that I'm not offended when educators and health practitioners ask me if my daughter has ever had an anaphylactic episode. I can say confidently that yes, she has. They then go on to question me how I know. I explain the wheezing, swollen face and that it took an injection of adrenaline to stop it from killing her. But many parents are told that their children have this allergy. No one wants to see their child in a life-threatening situation, so they avoid the allergen.
Although different studies point to different conclusions, parents themselves can see that there has been an increase. We all grew up with peanuts, peanut butter and the like. I don't remember as a child ever being aware of it making any of my friends sick. I've spoken to enough parents who have children with severe allergies to know that their child's condition is real and not a result of misdiagnosis. Therefore something is making it increase.
The one thing that is clear is that researchers and doctors don't really know much about how to prevent, handle or decrease food allergies. The popular theory to prevent peanut allergies is to avoid peanuts during pregnancy. To this day no one believes me when I tell them that the thought of eating peanuts made me sick when I was pregnant with my daughter. AND I LOVE PEANUTS. Even back then I suspected something. With my first pregnancy I subsisted on peanut butter, and my first child has no such allergies.
In fact research trying to show that avoidance of allergens during pregnancy helps prevent their liklehood has shown nothing of the sort. Doctors and those in clinical immunology are the first to admit that there's still a long way to go, and much to be done. But at least they're working on it.
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Comment by terrorbull1
Craft Voyage
I do not know the answer as to why allergies are so common today...
Many years ago it was very rare to be associated with a child who had an allery...come to think of it, I cannot even remember teaching a child with an allergy way back then.