New research published in December issue of Pediatrics reports that the median age of the first allergic reaction has dropped, quite literally, in half.

Researchers evaluated the medical records of one hundred and forty children with peanut allergy. Those born between 2000 and 2005 experienced their first allergic reaction at 14 months of age—an alarming drop—compared to children born between 1988 and 1999, who were 22 to 24 months of age at the time of their first reaction.

These results support the reasoning behind the current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation that calls for delaying the introduction of peanuts and peanut products to high risk children (those with a family history of allergic disease) until after age 3. The theory behind the recommendation is that delayed introduction lessens the chance of an allergic reaction and allows the child time to acquire the motor skills needed to verbalize symptoms of a reaction to his or her parent or caregiver.

Food Allergies On the Rise
The incidence of food allergy varies from country to country. The American College of Allergy and Immunology estimate that 12 million Americans suffer from food allergy, or 8% of children, and 4% of adults. Food allergy is the leading cause of emergency room visits in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, France, and Australia.

Even though peanut allergy more often makes the news, seafood allergy is actually the most common food allergy, affecting 7 million Americans—more than twice the number of peanut or tree nut allergy sufferers. However, children are far less likely (only 10 to 20 percent) to outgrow peanut allergy compared to other food allergies.

Symptoms of Food Allergy
Allergic symptoms associated with food allergy include itchy skin or rash, difficulty breathing, and a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Other symptoms include swelling of the skin and vomiting. Most occur within seconds of ingestion.

About 200 deaths occur each year as a result of food-related allergic reactions with the majority of those cases involving a peanut or tree nut allergy.

Treatment of Food Allergy
Allergy shots generally do not work for food allergies. Avoidance is often the best treatment but parents with allergic children should be prepared to seek immediate emergency medical attention in the event an allergic reaction occurs. Children with severe allergies are usually prescribed an Epi Pen or Epi Pen Jr. and instructed to wear a medical alert bracelet for safety.

As concerning as this new information may be, it is important for parents of highly allergic children to stay positive and be proactive. As the mother of a high-risk child myself (my husband is allergic to wheat), I am doing my best to learn all that I can about food allergy and follow my doctors’ recommendations in order to give my daughter the best chance I can.

Prevention of Food Allergy
Tips for possibly preventing food allergy include breastfeeding exclusively and avoiding supplementing with formula or solid food for at least six months. Mothers who cannot or choose not to breastfeed or those who supplement are urged to use a hypoallergenic formula, as children allergic to cow’s milk may also be allergic to soy.

There are two theories behind the alarming rise in peanut allergy. One being the higher intake of processed foods (common in the Western diet) containing unrecognized allergens, and also the hygiene hypothesis, which suggests that children, growing up in a Western culture obsessed with cleanliness, are not exposed to bacteria and allergens early and often, so they don’t develop natural tolerance.

“The bottom line,” according to Dr. Paul Hannaway, author of On the Nature of Food Allergy, “at the present time, there is no way to prevent food allergy other than by avoiding the offending food. Gene therapy is a long way off. Controlling food intake during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, and in early childhood does not seem to be the answer. Probiotic therapy needs more study. The most promising approaches might be to tweak the immune system with an earlier introduction of solid foods, anti IgE therapy, peptide injections, oral desensitization, or Chinese herbal therapy.”

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Food Allergy: The Billion Dollar Disease