Reactions Common in Kids with Food Allergy

Even when parents know a child has a food allergy and what foods to avoid, allergic reactions often occur, a new study finds. The study included 512 preschool children. All of them had been diagnosed with or were at risk for a food allergy. They were allergic to milk, eggs or peanuts. Parents were counseled often about avoiding the problem foods. Yet in the 3 years of the study, 72% of the children had an allergic reaction. Just over half had 2 or more reactions. In about half of the reactions, the parent gave the child a problem food by accident. In other cases, the food came from a caregiver, a grandparent, another child or a teacher. Only 30% were treated with the medicine epinephrine when that was appropriate, the study found. Many caregivers were afraid of side effects or not sure that the medicine was needed. The journal Pediatrics published the study.