Op-Ed: Total avoidance key to combatting food allergies

There's one way to tackle a food allergy to avoid a reaction -- total avoidance. A large amount of people believe that there is a daily medicine that will prevent an allergic reaction. That idea can have deadly results.

Unlike other allergies, food allergies are not treatable with over-the-counter medicines. For the roughly 8 per cent of children dealing with a food allergy, this belief could prove fatal. The most likely food culprits of an allergic reaction are nuts, cow's milk and chicken eggs. Nuts top the list for adults. When a person who has a true food allergy comes into contact with an allergen they can develop hives, have their throats swell closed, lose consciousness and even die. Because of the severity of food allergies school cafeterias and restaurants need to have certain safety procedures in place to minimize the risk. Some schools have become peanut-free zones. Others have set aside certain tables for allergic children. The Examiner reports:

“The public’s food allergy knowledge and awareness is critical to the safety of children with food allergy, especially since 76 percent of food allergy-related deaths follow consumption of foods outside of the home," lead author Ruchi S. Gupta noted in an American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology press release.

Some children with food allergies lose their sensitivity in late childhood. Those who are allergic to peanut, tree nut and seafood are generally allergic for life. As the parent of an allergic child I know the risks well. Growing up with an epi-pen my youngest child has learned to deal with a milk protein allergy that did not leave in late childhood. For the newly allergic family learning how to read product labels is key in avoiding the allergen. Many food allergies come with a multitude of different names on a food label. Casein for example is a milk product. Education with a nutritionist is a good first step in learning to protect your child. Alerting your child's schools is another. Remember there is no magic bullet when it comes to food allergies, unlike hay fever allergy medications do not stop reactions.