Even though food allergies are one of the major health problems affecting children in the United States, its management is very poor.
Cow's milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat are some common foods that bring in allergic reactions among children and adults.
The allergic reaction in the body results in the production of chemicals like histamine. The chemical further lead to a wide range of health issues like wheezing, trouble breathing, coughing, hoarseness, throat tightness, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, itchy, watery or swollen eyes, hives, red spots, swelling and a drop in blood pressure.
About eight percent of American children below six years suffer from food allergies. However, according to a new study, the whole process of food allergy diagnosis and treatment in the country is poorly managed.
Researchers from the Northwestern University initiated to study the prevalence of food allergies among American children and the efficiency of the diagnostic tests and the health practitioners in identifying the non-visual symptoms of severe allergic reactions.
For the analysis, Ruchi Gupta and colleagues drew data from an online survey of U.S. families having children affected with food allergies.
Only 70 percent of the parents reported a health practitioner diagnosing their children's food allergy. The report also showed the low income and minority status of families leading even to some undiagnosed food allergy cases.
However, among the total physician diagnosed cases, 32 percent didn't under go any diagnostic testing like blood, skin or oral food challenge.
Though oral food challenges can accurately diagnose food allergy than any other methods, a skin test (46 percent) was found to be the most common one adopted by physicians, with a blood test following it (39 percent). Only a minority - one- in five- of the parents reported their physician adopting an oral food challenge test.
"An oral food challenge might be scary for parents because their child is being fed the allergenic food," Gupta said. "Some physicians think the risks outweigh the benefits, but it is the best tool we have to diagnose a food allergy," said lead author Ruchi Gupta, an associate professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in a news release.
According to the researchers, it is essential to notice the symptoms of food allergies for providing a better diagnosis and treatment.
"Not all food allergy reactions start with swelling or a rash," Gupta said. "If you suspect your child has eaten something they're allergic to and you don't see a visible sign of a reaction, you need to think about what might be going on internally."
Following are some tips from the authors to avoid the risks associated with eating an allergic food by a child:
* Ask whether the child feel tightness in the throat
* Ensure the child do not experience breathing problems
* Ensure the safety of the child by enquiring the feeling of dizzy, faintness or stomach ache
Concerned by the findings, the researchers urge for better diagnosis and treatment to avoid the health risks. They also recommended parents to use the website Food Allergy Initiative (FAI), a non-profit organization as a guide to solve the problem.
"Every child with a food allergy should be diagnosed by a physician, have access to life-saving medication such as an epinephrine autoinjector and receive confirmation of the disease through diagnostic testing," Gupta said. "Not all children are receiving this kind of care."
Results of the study have been published online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
