Food allergies that stay, and those that fade away
Food allergies are funny things, and I don’t mean “haha.” We don’t know why our children get them, but we automatically fall into planning and protection mode the moment we learn of them. Some of us will shed the extra work, and more importantly, the fear that we’ve lived with so gracefully. But many will have the workarounds (packing lunches for a pizza party) and worry (don’t eat that cookie!!) forever. Read on for a little info to help give you an idea of which may apply to you.
Likely lifetime allergies:
Peanuts – Approximately only one out of five children will outgrow this allergy.
Tree nuts – More than 90% of children will have to avoid this allergen forever.
Fish – A large number of people don’t have a reaction to fish until they’re adults, so kids with this allergy should plan to keep it.
Shellfish – The same thing for fish applies to shellfish, since more than half acquire the allergy in adulthood.
According to Dr. Jennifer Sherman, a physician with Allergy & Asthma Specialists, PC, in Saddle River, NJ, allergies that tend to be more short-lived are egg, wheat, dairy and soy. Of their timeline, Dr. Sherman commented, “Children used to grow out of these by the time they started school, but it can happen later than we originally anticipated, even up to ages 12 or 13.”
So how do you know your child’s allergic status? Dr. Sherman said, “We stay on top of the numbers, both on the skin test and in bloodwork. Skin testing can stay positive even after the allergy is outgrown, but if we see those numbers are significantly lower than before and the numbers on the bloodwork have trended down, too, we’ll administer an oral challenge in the office by giving the child their allergen and then monitoring for any reaction.”
The importance of staying in touch with your child’s allergist, no matter which list your child’s allergen is on, is evident. And even if your child is on the “lifetime” list, don’t get down. As you’ve seen and read in recent news, researchers are making headway in finding a cure for what’s ailing our kids every day. In light of these developments, it’s important to note that you should never take matters into your own hands or leave anything to chance. For now, just rest assured that you’re laying the foundation for a safe and healthy life, and know that you’re among great company.