How American children are in the grip of food allergies

It is emerging that food allergies are a bigger problem than thought in previous years in the United States. Eight percent of children under 18 are said to be affected by food allergies. The effects range from mild to severe reactions. The amount translates to about 6 million children. Researchers at the University of Chicago set out to do a more comprehensive study of the extent of the effects of allergies among children. This is against a background of previous studies suggesting a prevalence as low as 1 percent.

The experts conducting the study noted that children were exposed to a wide range of allergies simply because of the wide range of foods consumed. Peanut allergy was the most prominent in the prevalence rate of 2 percent of a total of more than 38,000 children surveyed. The prevalence of allergies also varied with age and social background of children involved in the study. For example, it plans to use the results of the study that children in Asia and black usually more likely food allergies.

Other sources of allergic reactions include milk, shellfish and tree nuts. Reactions to these foods often consumed include wheezing pressure, low blood and anaphylaxis. Food delivery of other serious reactions among children in the U.S. include soy and fish. Rapid changes in the diet of much of the Western world can also be blamed for an increased prevalence of allergies. A large number of American children is to stop eating a healthy diet. Eating organic and processed foods can also be a viable reason for the increase in allergies among children.

Based on the research suggests that children older than 2 years are more suffering from allergies. Statistically, the study showed a prevalence of 6.3 percent in children under 2 and 8.6 percent among those over 14 years of age. Perhaps confirming that the type of food consumed correlates with the social status of children, the study found that children living in households with annual incomes below $ 50,000 were likely to be allergic. Perhaps the low-income families settled for the cheapest foods available, while the well to do families had the opportunity to follow a healthy diet.

Understanding the prevalence of food allergies and making major will probably improve the best way to address the problem at the household level, community level and even nationally.


Lisa Beverley writes highly informative and researched articles for end consumers about a variety of health care topics including remedies, health and fitness, nutrition, slimming, weight loss zroducts, bodybuilding supplements and diet tips.

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