Food allergy is a serious and sometimes life-threatening health issue that is increasing among children of all ages, races and ethnicities

Reports indicate that food allergies, especially peanut allergies, are growing, but there is limited knowledge about diagnosis and treatment on a national basis
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“Food Allergy Among Children in the United States,” published in the December issue of Pediatrics, is the first study to describe trends in the prevalence of food allergy and food allergy-related health care in the U.S.

According to the study, in addition to an 18 percent increase in the prevalence of self-reported food allergy, visits to ambulatory facilities related to food allergies nearly tripled between 1993-1997 and 2003-2006 from an estimated 116,000 to 317,000 visits per year. Researchers also found that in 2005-2006, 9 percent of U.S. children 1 to 17 years of age had positive serum immunoglobulin E antibodies to peanuts.

Rates of food allergy among boys and girls were similar, but there were differences by race/ethnicity. Reported food allergy has increased the most among Hispanic children. As more parents learn about food allergy, there will likely be increased recognition among families of what symptoms could be food allergy, leading to faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment.