The EpiPen: The Latest Kids Accessory

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a startling study announcing that the number of children with food allergies has increased 18% in the last decade. In 2007, 3 million children had food allergies with about 9,500 of these cases resulting in hospitalization. And this increase is not because there is greater awareness--doctors actually believe that the increase is "real" which means that there must be something about the way we live that is causing this increase.

But what really stopped me in my tracks was that children with food allergies are two to four times as likely to have related conditions such as asthma or other allergies. And guess whose very own children have nut allergies AND asthma....

Excerpt:
My two oldest children are both allergic to nuts. So are a rapidly growing number of kids. I never knew anyone with a peanut allergy when I was growing up. And yet, for children under five, the rate of peanut allergies doubled between 1997 and 2002. And the median age at which the first reaction to a nut allergy occurs is getting younger; the most recent research says it's appearing at fourteen months. Despite many studies, no one knows why this is happening. Here's what I know. My third child, who was raised in a non-toxic home, eating only organic formula and food, recently tested allergy free. Look, I can't be certain that our new lifestyle is the reason this baby is allergy free, but it sure does make you think.

So the real mystery here is why? There are many theories out there about why food allergies are on the rise in children. "Food allergies can be genetic; however, I believe that the increased prevalence of genetically-modified food may have significantly contributed to the growing rate of food allergies in children," says Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician at Stanford University and author of Raising Baby Green. "It is possible that the addition of genes in our food can cause new
allergens to emerge, causing allergic reactions in susceptible individuals, especially children. Exposures to other chemicals could also be contributing, as well as not getting enough of certain
healthy foods. In fact, mounting evidence suggests a mother's habits while pregnant can affect whether or not her children will develop allergies."

A growing number of experts agree with these existing theories. But until we figure it out, what is there to do? Not much except to feed your children the cleanest nutrition possible, keep your child away from the culprits, and never leave home without your EpiPen.

Comments

[coopedl]

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[rini]

I think chronic airway irritation, due to pollution by fine particulates in the air can rev up the immune system to respond with IgE and eosinophils which are the markers of allergy, and, interestingly, also involved in defending us from irritating parasites.

Once the immune system is revved up, it looks for a natural protein to attack, hence, bystander proteins, such as pollen, animal dander and foods are attacked and allergy symptoms develop.

[Jasmire]

Great article. It is essential for people suffering from severe allergies and those susceptible to anaphylaxis to always have their Epipens on-hand. Take in Case is a great product to ensure you always do. It's a comfortable alternative to carrying your Epipens on a necklace or in a bag in times when it may be inconvenient to do so (concerts, games, exercising).

www.takeincase.com

[andygaus]

What's an EpiPen?

[rini]

It's an injection of epinephrine in an easy to use device that does the injecting for you. Epinephrine is the lifesaving adrenaline that can break an allergic reaction before someone passes out or cannot breathe.

[Mother77]

Breastfeeding helps prevent allergies. My mother didn't and I have a list of allergies. I then breastfeed my daughter and she has no allergies. I fed my daughter raw milk as a child (against several daoctor's wishes) and she ate organic. She just had a check-up and is perfectly healthy at 30!

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

This rise in food allergies coincides with rising levels of juvenile diabetes and autism -- both of which are auto-immune disorders as well. And, it can't be simply genetic -- genes don't change this fast in a generation (otherwise we'd all be much more highly evolved than we are).

It has been suggested by many involved in dealing with evaluating and treating children with autism that the effects of environmental heavy metals (whether through the air, the mother's mercury filings, or the vaccines that contain a fair amount of mercury [check the product insert of your flu vaccine!] and aluminum) may be contributing to a variety of immune disorders. Food allergies is yet another possible side effect of this (my 17 year old son with autism is allergic, albeit not deathly, to a wide variety of foods -- particularly dairy).

[charliehall]

I don't know why peanut allergies are on the increase, but one thing that is certain is that it is NOT because of genetically modified peanuts, which were only approved a few years ago, long after most of the recent increase reported. Genetic modification actually offers the potential for the reduction of allergens; there are already genetically modified cats available as pets for persons who are allergic to those wonderful animals.

[rini]

One study reveals that roasted peanuts have more allergenic protein than boiled or raw peanuts. The new protein is created by the hot roasting process, which is many degrees higher than the boiling temperature.

People in China, even those with eczema and allergies, do not have much peanut allergy. Most of th peanuts there are boiled.

[chombo]

I always figure that any health related article that fails to cite any actual science is very suspect. Until you can cite evidence this is just new-age woo.

[Walshy]

I don't follow your logic. You're saying that there's a connection between an "organic" non-GMO lifestyle and lack of a peanut allergy in a child living in such an environment? This is a stretch.

Why would unrelated GMO foods contribute to peanut allergies? Instead it seems this GMO production would have caused allergies to corn, tomatoes, etc. There is no evidence to support your claim here.

Research into a GMO peanut only began in earnest in 2003. Well after children started showing up with allergies to peanuts. To my knowledge there is no GMO peanut readily available. If there were, and it were to free my son of his deadly peanut allergy you can bet that I would get past any philosophical conditioning regarding the way that we humans "meddle" with nature. The fact remains that we have been and will continue to meddle for 1000s of years.

This is a case of lifestyle trends overwhelming logic and science. Sorry, but I don't buy it. The choice should be available in that these GMO foods should be properly labeled, but let's not stoke fears about GMOs that can't be supported at a very basic level. Note to conspiracy theorists: I DO NOT work for any company that produces or supports GMO foods :)

[bknott]

I agree. She just seems to be trying to push an all-natural agenda. Hey, I have nothing against organic, but if she's really just trying to scare people into blaming chemicals (when there is no clear link to allergies), then we're going to waste resources, and not solve the problem.

Good luck with your son, I really hope we can find something to neutralize the most serious allergies (like peanut).

[kellygrrrl]

I'm wondering what kind of studies they are doing about the relationship between food allergies and hormones.

[SEQUOIABISON]

Peanuts are a big problem for most people, they are not easy to digest and they are not truly in the Nut family.

True Nuts like Pecans, Walnuts and Pistachios grow on trees, Peanuts are a Legume and grow under ground like carrots. Nuts are very healthy and essential for protein in vegan diets like mine, I also enjoy the taste of roasted Peanuts but knowing how difficult they are to digest, I eat them only occasionally, whereas I usually eat Nuts grown on trees every day.

[rucognizant]

continuation...................
NOW they label : CAUTION, produced in an environment that uses peanuts. But there is NO SUCH WARNING against HFCS which DOES block the body's natural insulin function.
I am living proof of that: after 10 years of eating processed foods due to income and time constraints, I have tested as pre-diabetic! There is NO family history of diabetes, and the other 59 years of my life I have eaten healthy, real food prepared from scratch, heavy on the veggies ( NOT corn) not a big sweets lover!

[jimmyjones22]

Its because parents are feeding their babies those types of foods to early. Ask your doctor before giving infants anything other then what they should be eating.

[rucognizant]

It's interesting that people are finally becoming aware of the political scam that has played most of us,and hopefully that awareness will bring Obama to the WH!
But people are LAGGING BEHIND WITH UNDERSTANDING OR BEING WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FOOD SCAM!
The longtime clerk at my local Agway store actually said to me this summer "Who's Monsanto?"
Wouldn't you think the guy who is there to advise you if you want to garden organically, would know better? Monsanto has been working really hard at taking control of WORLD FOOD! DID you know that they added the DNA of a nursing sow ( Mother pig) to the DNA of corn, in an attempt to make it more nourishing? Because of the ( wind blown ) pollination habits of the corn plant, a major portion of the world's corn has become contaminated even in remote valleys in countries like Mexico.
Almost NOTHING you can buy in your supermarket is free of contamination......taco chips, tortillas, even those kids meals where the vegetable is most often corn instead of something green........
How much corn do YOU consume in a week.? Then there is high fructose corn syrup; used instead of sugar for POLITICAL/ECONOMIC REASONS! ( our relationship wit Cuba since the 50's, giving a financial bailout to the corngrowers in the midwest; ( most of their elected representatives are Republicans.)

[Buffkat00]

Actually, it's not. There are a lot of theories, but the biggest is the "Hygeine Theory" in which they discuss the possibility that we are all "too clean". Trust me, parents are warned from feeding kids these allergens too early, but it doesn't matter: my son was BORN allergic to soy and since has been diagnosed allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and eggs. Yes, we carry an epi pen everywhere. It is insulting when people who obviously do not understand food allergies make comments (and in this case one that doesn't fit the facts).

[elizaconnors]

I have two sons. The younger was allergic to dairy products but grew out of it.

My older son is eighteen and has been allergic to all melons since he was four years old. Yes, melons. Not peanuts or shellfish. People don't believe this, but over the years I have had endless conversations with nurses that say that it is not unusual.

My son will go into anaphylactic shock if he eats even a bit of watermelon or cantelope. He has even had his throat close up when he is in a cafeteria where classmates are eating melon. He has carried an epipen since he was a child and now that he is at college wears a necklace in addition.

I don't worry about how this happened, mostly because it is too late do anything about it. I can only tell parents to make sure that they make BIG NOISE about their children's allergies because they are often not taken seriously.

But, my son is studying neuroscience and I constantly tell him that the researchers need to examine chemical and environmental factors in their research.

[jswader]

I am 39 and allergic to melons. I too would suffer from anaphylactic shock. I now have two young children three and one. My peers wont give their children peanuts, meanwhile studies show that in cultures where babies eat from the"kitchen table" they have less allergies than us. Also while I was pregnant I ate peanuts and peanut butter . I gave my kids peanut butter as soon as they could eat it. my one year old eats peanuts out of the can. Who nose why, I do belive your over reaction my be part of the reason.

[elizaconnors]

I wouldn't call it over-reaction. One day he was eating melons and was fine. Two weeks later he ate melons for lunch and ended up in the hospital. After that, he could never even handle melons because he would get a rash. We finally had him tested when he was much older.

[WritingFrontier]

Peanuts! Get your peanuts! The problems in raising children these days never seem to end. For a little sympathy on the subject, see Writing Frontier's "Child's Play" at

http://writingfrontier.com/2008/09/08/childs-play/