Severe Food Allergies

Medical and lay concerns about food allergies appear to be increasing. While food allergies may be becoming more common, fatal reactions to food in childhood are fortunately very rare and their rate is not changing. A recent British study reviewed hospital admissions for severe food allergies and found:

"A[n admission] rate of 0.89 hospital admissions per 100,000 children per year. Sixty-five percent were male, 41% were under 4 years, and 60% started at home. Main allergens were peanut (21%), tree nuts (16%), cow's milk (10%), and egg (7%). Main symptoms were facial swelling (76%), urticaria (69%), respiratory (66%), shock (13%), gastrointestinal (4%)." The study concluded that: "(1) asthma is a strongly significant risk factor for a severe reaction and therefore warrants optimal management; (2) severe wheeze is a prominent feature of severe reactions and warrants optimal management; and (3) intravenous epinephrine should be used with great care if needed." The complete article: Reading, R. (2005, Nov). "Severe food-allergic reactions in children across the UK and Ireland, 1998–2000."

Child: Care, Health & Development, Vol. 31, 6, 741-742.

Contributed by Micheal Kalinowski

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