Good Food Can Kill

 Can a child die from eating a couple of peanuts at a baseball game?

            Most people would answer: “Only if the child chokes on them”—unless they’re parents of a kid who is allergic to peanuts. For them, the peanut-caused death of their son or daughter is a terrifying 24/7 possibility.

            Don’t go for the delete button. This is not the beginning of a teary-eyed pitch for money to fight peanut allergy.

It is, however, a request that you do something which, in the long run, may be as effective as a donation. And it won’t cost a cent. You can let me fill you in on a few facts about food allergies in general and the peanut allergy in particular—please. I’m pleading because they comprise one of the most devastating—yet least known—health threats going.

After reading this, you might be familiar enough with the problem to be able to let others know how serious it can be. Hopefully as word gets around, support for the fight against food allergies, financial and otherwise, will grow.

            Also, once you have a feel for this monster, you might some day be able to help a youngster or adult avoid an attack or maybe even lend a hand to someone actually suffering from a food allergy reaction.  Or simply empathize.            

            So just consider this an abbreviated edition of “Food Allergies for Dummies” that might make you a hero.

Today, about 12 million Americans, including 2.2 million school age kids, have food allergies. And there may be an epidemic in the making. Between 1999 and 2002 the number of kids ages five and under with peanut allergy more than doubled. Current figures are unavailable, but people who should know tell me that the total today is considerably higher and steadily rising.

            The peanut is the most common and dangerous food allergen. Other culprits are milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish and tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans).

            Children usually outgrow allergies to these foods, but vulnerability to peanuts is a life sentence. And no one knows why.

            Researchers promise that some type of immunotherapy may be available for peanut-allergic youngsters within five years. But no absolute cure is in sight.

Meanwhile kids like Nicholas, who is as bright and active as they come, are forced to remember things that shouldn’t even enter their minds—like never to go near anyone eating anything that contains peanuts.

 It’s no romp in the woods for parents, either.

            My girlfriend and I were recent stand-ins for Nicholas’ mom and dad while they enjoyed a well-deserved night on the town complete with a next day sleep-‘til-noon guarantee.           

            We, on the other hand, curled up for the evening with the latest reports on the peanut allergy situation and the “what-to-do-if” list Nicholas’ parents left with us. It was titled “Peanut Allergy Reaction—Can Be Fatal.” And it went downhill from there.

            We learned that “Symptoms will occur within 15 minutes to 2 hours,” and were told to “Watch closely with Epi-pen ready.” An Epi-pen is used to inject a dose of life-saving medicine, if it comes to that.    Symptoms range from itchiness and a rash to a swollen face and difficulty breathing. Coughing, vomiting and turning blue are among other possibilities, along with dizziness, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

            The smallest incident can mark the start of this horror story. Example: All hell could break loose if a child on a swing happens to touch a tiny bit of peanut butter left there by another child, then puts the hand that did the touching up to his or her mouth.

            We’re not just talking kid stuff when it comes to food allergies. An adult can become allergic at any age and suffer miserably. The forbidden foods (peanuts included) and the symptoms are pretty much the same as for children.

That’s the story in broad strokes. If you want more details on the food allergy problem—and/or happen to have a few thousand that’s just taking up space— contact The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network at FAAN@foodallergy.org or www.foodallergy.org