More than 2 million children are allergic to food and, unfortunately, that number is only rising. So what is a parent to do? Try these everyday tips from Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a mom who has personal experience with this subject and wants to help others.

Food allergies 101
If your child doesn’t have a food allergy, there’s a good chance that at least one classmate does. That’s because food allergies have been increasing at an alarming rate over the past 10 years. More than 11 million Americans, including 2 million children, are food allergic. The number of kids with peanut allergy alone doubled between 1997 and 2002. 

Every year, severe food allergies result in 30,000 emergency room visits. At least 150 people die from anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can kill or cause brain damage within minutes. We don’t yet have a cure. Strict avoidance of problem foods is the only way to prevent life-threatening reactions. 

Unfortunately, many people still don’t have enough information about food allergy symptoms or how to prevent potentially deadly reactions. It isn’t enough to “just say no” to a PB&J sandwich. Dangerous trace amounts of the wrong food can hide on a fork that hasn’t been thoroughly washed, in a poorly labeled package of cookies, or in the touch or kiss of someone you love. Constant vigilance is a way of life. 

Symptoms also can be insidious. Some children with food allergies have a severe reaction the first time they eat the wrong food (most common: peanuts, tree nuts, cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, fish, shellfish and soy). But others have persistent, milder symptoms, such as skin rashes, nasal congestion, or intestinal problems, which can be signs of other conditions. That’s why it’s so important to see an allergist who is experienced in diagnosing and treating food allergies. Zachary, my son, didn’t have a severe reaction until age 2, when he was unintentionally exposed to peanuts outside our home. Luckily, by that time, we knew exactly how to handle the problem: immediate treatment with epinephrine — the only medication that can stop an anaphylactic reaction once it’s begun.

Learning to cope
Not surprisingly, studies have shown that life is often extremely stressful for children and families affected by severe food allergies. As a mother, my hopes and dreams are the same as any other parent’s: to raise a happy, healthy child who will become a confident, independent adult. But in the back of my mind, there’s always the fear that eating — a mundane activity for most people — could take my son’s life. Day to day, my primary objective is to make sure that everybody who leaves our apartment in the morning comes home safely at night. 

Right now, Zachary is only 5-and-a-half years old, so it’s relatively easy to ensure that he’s protected. But as he gets older and begins to go out into the world on his own, he’ll have to take increasing responsibility for his own safety. So, until researchers find a cure, education will be key — for Zachary, for my husband and me, for friends and relatives, for staff at school and at camp. Knowledge makes life less stressful for all of us — for families who are affected by food allergies and for the people around us who are often called upon to accommodate our needs. Most importantly, knowledge saves lives.

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