Evolving Approaches to Food Allergies
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2011-01-19/evolving-approaches-food-allergies
Airlines are getting rid of peanuts. Schools are nixing birthday treats. Grocery stores aisles are full of gluten- and wheat-free foods. It may seem obvious that food allergies are dramatically on the rise. But scientists and public health officials say the reality is more complex. We'll explore new guidelines for diagnosing and treating food allergies in America.
Guests
Dr. Matthew Fenton
Chief of the Asthma, Allergy and Inflammation Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Dr. Hemant Sharma
Director, Food Allergy Program, Children’s National Medical Center
Comments
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I can't get through on the phones, so I will post here.
I was recently diagnosed with Esinophilic Esophagitis, which is an inflammation of the esophagus that is believed to be related to food allergy. I am going to get tested in 2 weeks for various food allergies. I was under the impression that allergists are getting more familiar with this problem, and wanted to know what the guests say about it.
A+ on the pronunciation Kojo
Thank you Kojo for discussing this topic today.
Can you guests discuss the difference between a food allergy vs. a food sensitivity?
I've personally faced what I think are food sensitivities. No allergic reaction but hours or days later I feel awful after eating soy, tomatoes, peanuts, etc.
Is adult acne ever attributed to food sensitivities?
my 4 year old son has an egg allergy, mostly to the white(part). his diagnosis was at approximately age 2. what are the odds that he will outgrow this allergy and does this(egg allergy) mean that he allergic to all types of eggs such as caviar, salmon roe, other poultry eggs?
I have been diagnosed with acute Environmental Sickness, and forced to work from home to avoid a myriad of bodily reactions. For 18 months, our office was exposed to black mold and dust mites. At first allergy scratch test, I was moderately allergic to common environmental allergies. Nine months later upon a second scratch test, I was severely allergic to all environmental allergens. Consequently, I am allergic to shell fish, gluten, wheat, corn products and all preservatives. I am 45 years old and have no prior history of food or air quality allergies. Today I carry an Epi Pen and my best line of defense has been building a stronger immune system so that my "flare-ups" are not as severe. Can you talk about "cross reactivity" in foods due to environmental hazard exposure?
Thank you!
Sharon Thomas, Annapolis, Maryland
Just in the last few months, both my husband and my daughter (age 12) have been diagnosed with allergies to beef, pork, and all mammal meat. They have no other allergies. I have read of one theory, proposed by a researcher at the University of Virginia, that links receiving a tick bite with the development of this allergy to mammal meat. Are you familiar with this theory? What is your opinion of it?
My 3 year old son is heading up to Dr. Woods' shop at Johns Hopkins tomorrow for a peanut challenge.
The initial diagnosis of peanut (and egg) allergy came 2 days before his 1st birthday after the pediatrician had a blood test done to figure out why he had serious eczema all over his body.
Since then we've removed peanuts from the house, transitioned his 3 siblings to peanut-free almond butter, and avoided peanut products in the house.
His RAST numbers went up from 2009 to 2010, which the folks at JHU say 'is not encouraging.". Initially they were skeptical that he had an actual allergy - thinking that his eczema might have affected the results (he's never had an anaphylactic reaction).
If he passes the test tomorrow (eating 50 recess pieces without reaction) we're going to have a peanut party at the house. If he fails the test (and is, in fact, allergic), what do we have to look forward to in terms of treatment?
My family owns a Montessori school in Reston. Our school is nut free entirely. no child is isolated and all of the children understand the danger nuts could cause to a friend and respect their needs. Any snacks brought to school are accompanied by a list of ingredients as well. Any parent who complains about not being able to send peanut butter to school with their child should be the next adult to have to give a child an epi pen. Maybe then they would be less selfish!
I'm curious about this: my mom loves seafood and up until she was around 40 or so she could eat scallops; since then, however, she can't eat scallops without breaking into severe hives. She isn't affected by eating any other kind of seafood, though. Do scientists know why people develop adult allergies? And is there a chance the same thing might happen to me (i.e. a hereditary allergy)?
- Ben in Columbia Heights
I believe I have a coconut allergy.
My mom (who would never win any "mother of the year" awards) insists that I "just don't like it"
But anytime I unknowingly put something in my mouth that contains coconut, I can tell immediately.
I get this weird sensation of something akin to swelling inside my mouth, including my tongue. I just immediately feel the need to "get this out of my mouth!!!!" and then proceed to wash my mouth out very thoroughly.
I even have difficulty if I'm standing too close to something that has a lot of coconut.
Is it possible that this is an allergy, or just a "sensitivity" or intense dislike?
Thanks!
Regina in Elkridge, MD
garlic, particularly raw, and some other foods cause my face to perspire profusely, even just smelling them. this is particularly discomfiting in a restaurant when i have to mop my brow with the napkin.
since i frequently dine with vampires is there anything i can do to avoid this reaction?
As a toddler I was diagnosed with an allergy to peanuts (around 1979) and my mother was told that I would grow out of it. As a teenager I was told something different when I saw my first allergist: that the peanut allergy is unique to other allergies in that it only gets worse with age and that my chances of dying frrom anaphylactic shock increase with age. As an adult I have been hospitalized twice after blacking out from eating food that contained trace amounts of some peanut type substance. Is it true that this allergy becomes increasingly worse? I never leave home without my EpiPen!
As a toddler I was diagnosed with an allergy to peanuts (around 1979) and my mother was told that I would grow out of it. As a teenager I was told something different when I saw my first allergist: that the peanut allergy is unique to other allergies in that it only gets worse with age and that my chances of dying frrom anaphylactic shock increase with age. As an adult I have been hospitalized twice after blacking out from eating food that contained trace amounts of some peanut type substance. Is it true that this allergy becomes increasingly worse? I never leave home without my EpiPen!
Thanks for some great advice! Doreen
My sister developed a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to red meat products in her 40s. Any news on this at NIH? We've heard that allergy to red meat may be related to a tick bite. Any news on that?
Hello -
We had exactly the same question regarding allergies to mammal meat, but I didn't hear the doctors comment on this on air -- can you share what they said? THe fact that BOTH your husband and daughter have this (life-threatening, anaphylactic shock reaction?) is very suspicious to us (but we are not forensic medical researchers).
My email: susanculhane@yahoo.com