Food allergies...what's ahead

Over the past few weeks, I've been sharing information from other Edmond parents about their experiences with handling their children's food allergies. What I heard time and again was that parents are doing the best they can, but all wish (and hope) the food allergy would go away for their children.

The parents didn't complain about extra work or inconveniences to them. No, none of them minded caring for a child with a food allergy and ensuring his or her safety. The frustration with food allergies comes from the stigma parents believe it creates for their child.

Because of this, several parents were looking toward strides made in food allergy research. Carly Harris, an Edmond mom with a young son suffering from milk, egg, and peanut allergies, hopes her son will outgrow his allergies (and there's hope that he might, at least for the milk and egg allergies). However, she also anticipates strides in food allergy research may lead to better treatment. "I have heard that there is a program offered by local allergy doctors where they can challenge the allergens and eventually make the children build up a tolerance to the foods," Harris says. "I am very hopeful to look into this."

And her hopes are not off base. Dr. Tim Trojan of the Oklahoma Institute of Allergy and Asthma says that treatment has become available (as well as more accepted) that exposes children to small amounts of the allergen, creating a tolerance to it over time. "This may be a treatment to pursue," says Dr. Trojan, "if the allergy is creating a very negative impact on a person's quality of life."

However, he warns, having an "EpiPen" (epinephrine) on hand is imperative, as those who have been exposed to any allergen are at greater risk for an allergic reaction (see symptoms here).

News about research on food allergy treatment can be found on the website for Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). Currently, the only method known for preventing a reaction is avoiding the food to which the child is allergic. The organization's treatment page also lists medications used for treating reactions. The treatment Harris mentioned, immunotherapy (also known as "allergy shots"), is experimental at the moment, but it has been known to be effective. More information can be found on the website for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 

If you are ready to get more aggressive about tackling a food allergy, Dr. Trojan strongly suggests getting a recommendation for a board certified allergist from your child's pediatrician (you can also search for one here). A doctor who specializes in food allergies should be up to date on what treatments are available and also what is appropriate for your child.

Well, that's all for this week. Check back next week when we take a lighter approach to food allergies and post some links to recipes that tackle cooking with missing ingredients!