CDC Reports Childhood Food Allergies at an All-time High
Fort Lee, New Jersey (PRWEB) September 08, 2013 -- In May 2013, the CDC reported that food allergies in children increased 18 percent between 1997 and 2007, and have continued to rise in the years since. This equates to more than 300,000 outpatient hospital visits for children under the age of 18 due to food allergies. In a new blog from Marble Media LLC’s HealthFill.com blog site titled “Childhood Food Allergies at an All-Time High,” guest blogger Liz Ernst tells readers what the CDC says this means to parents and children.
According to the CDC study, Allergic reactions can happen suddenly and can range from mild to severe. Some allergy cases are so severe that if not treated immediately, the allergic child can die. Peanut and nut allergies tend to be the most severe.
“Allergies can change very quickly, which means that just because a child can have peanut butter or milk today does not necessarily mean that they will never be allergic to those foods,” Ernst says. “Researchers have yet to determine the reason behind the increase in food allergies among children, but they do say that introducing children to a wide range of foods at a young age may help to prevent allergies.
“This is a change in thinking from 10 years ago when parents were told to avoid common allergens until their children reached certain ages.”
In fact, the new CDC research shows that just the opposite is true, and this finding is backed by the massive increase in allergies in the years since.
Many schools have begun to carry epinephrine in case an allergic reaction causes a life-or-death reaction.
“Having this preventative measure in place can save a life,” Ernst says. This is a hot topic among schools and parents right now, and epinephrine is now available in easy to use forms, such as the epi-pen.
“In many cases, the allergic reaction is triggered because the child did not know that he or she was allergic to the food that caused the reaction.”
Many schools have also taken strides to ensure that food that is served for breakfast or lunch is “allergy-safe” by listing ingredients, and by making sure that the food served to the children does not come in contact with common allergens, unless it is clearly labeled to contain those ingredients.
"Parents whose children have known food allergies are probably breathing a sigh of relief to know that their children are going to be safe when they eat a meal at school, but it’s the parents whose children haven’t show any signs of food allergies who should be happy," Ernst says. "Since a food allergy can sneak up on a child unexpectedly, the school staff will be able to evaluate the situation and treat it before it becomes life-threatening."
For more information, visit the HealthFill.com website or email info(at)HealthFill(dot)com.
About Marble Media LLC:
Marble Media LLC is a creator of high-quality, content-rich blog sites that provide expansive coverage of relevant information to readers who make up a wide range of demographics. The Marble Media LLC team of expert writers covers a wide range of specialties including travel, food, health, fitness, social media, marriage, parenting, technology, weight loss, fashion and much more.
For more information on Marble Media LLC’s offerings and advertising opportunities, visit the Marble Media LLC website or email sales(at)marblemedia(dot)com.
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Media Department, Marble Media LLC, http://www.marblemediallc.com, 1.888.214.6491, [email protected]
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