Private MD News

Vigilant mom protects son from food allergies

Category: Allergy Testing

A CNN.com producer recently talked about her struggles raising her 4-year-old son Teddy, who suffers from dangerous food allergies.

Jo Parker, in a story that was published on the news provider's website, wrote her son has to avoid foods such as milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts and tree nuts. If not, he could end up in the emergency room.

"We found out about Teddy's allergies partially through trial and error and then through allergy testing when he was 18 months old, and we didn't want any more missteps," Parker wrote.

The allergy test revealed the true extent of Teddy's condition, forcing Parker and husband Rick to practice vigilance when food shopping at the grocery store.

Teddy is not alone. In the U.S., 1 to 2 percent of children have "true food allergies" similar to Teddy's, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. While some children may grow out of some allergies by age 4, many will retain others such as peanuts and shellfish for their entire life.

One of the best ways to prevent serious conditions is for parents who suspect their children have food allergies to get a lab test as soon as possible.