- Kids With Food Allergies - https://kidswithfoodallergies.org -

My Life With Food Allergy Report

Posted By phtdcmin On August 18, 2022 @ 9:02 am In | Comments Disabled

Living with Food Allergies

/ Living with Food Allergies ^[1] / Food Allergy Topics ^[2] / My Life With Food Allergy Report

My Life With Food Allergy Report

Cow’s milk allergy (usually just called “milk allergy”) is a very common food allergy among children. About 1.9% of U.S. children have a milk allergy.1 It is also one of the most common food allergies worldwide.

My Life With Food Allergy: Parent Survey Report

Experts estimate that 6 million children in the U.S. are affected by food allergy, along 26 million adults.^1,2 The numbers keep increasing, along with the public health burden. It is critical that we discuss better ways to not only manage food allergies, but to also better support people with food allergies and their families.

In 2019, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) ^[3] and its food allergy division, Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) conducted a three-part study titled “My Life With Food Allergy.” These surveys aimed to understand the burden of food allergy from three populations:

Parents of children with food allergies
Teen/young adult patients with food allergies
Adults with food allergies

This survey sought insights on the following topics:

Experience with food allergy diagnosis, symptoms and allergic reactions, current treatments
Emotional, social, financial impact of food allergies on the caregiver (parent)
Parent-reported emotional and social impact on the patient (child)
Challenges in navigating school, dining and social activities
Confidence in daily food allergy management
Awareness of and thoughts about future treatment

The first report from this study – the My Life With Food Allergy: Parent Survey Report ^[4] – is a summary of the emotional, social and financial impact on the parent or caregiver of a child with food allergies. This document focuses on select data from the parent survey. In some sections of the report, data from the patient surveys have been included for comparison.

The report analyzed responses from 1,234 parents of children with food allergy, resulting in three key findings.

Key Findings

Due to the breadth of topics covered by the survey, responses provided a great deal of insights into patient and caregiver experiences, beliefs and knowledge. Throughout this report, the most notable data presented will focus on these three key findings:

Mental and emotional impact of food allergy on parents is greater than the impact on patients themselves.

Parent caregivers report a higher burden than do patients age 13 and over.
FA has a major impact on many parents’ mental, social and emotional well-being.
Fear, anxiety and worry were common themes throughout the survey’s responses from parents.

Food allergies have considerable impact on parents’ social lives.

Families experience a loss of normalcy leading to adjustments in decision making and daily routines.
Parents report skipping events including school functions due to food allergies.
Birthday parties, traveling, dining out and entertainment activities present challenges for parents.

Food allergies cause significant financial strain and time burden for parents.

For some families, daily realities and needs for caring for children with food allergies present a major financial burden.
Some families have had to make career decisions based on food allergies, leading to negative financial impact on the entire household.
Food allergies can also present a major time burden for some families.

The survey offers insight on other details, such as the impact food allergies can have on career choices, eating out, family traditions and more. Read or download the My Life With Food Allergy: Parent Survey Report to learn more. ^[4]

Click on >> to open in Presentation Mode to see the document in full screen. Tap your screen or space bar to advance through the pages to read the report.

Spotlight on Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)

Eosinophilic [EE-oh-sin-oh-FILL-ick] esophagitis [uh-sof-uh-JIE-tis] – EoE – is a type of non-IgE mediated food allergy that causes swelling in your esophagus. It can make eating difficult and painful. It can also be tricky and stressful to manage. In our report, we highlighted the effects of managing EoE and the impact it can have on families.

Download the “My Life With Food Allergy Parent Survey Report: Spotlight on Eosinophilic Esophagitis” ^[5]

^[5]

Join our online community to continue the discussion about our My Life With Food Allergy: Parent Survey Report, as well as ways we can all work together to raise awareness. Our forums also give you the chance to talk with other parents about the impact food allergy has had on your family in a supportive and encouraging environment.

JOIN NOW ^[6]

The My Life With Food Allergy parent survey is an independent research project of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America with support from DBV Technologies.

References
1. Gupta, R.S., Warren, C.M., Smith, B.M., Blumenstock, J.A., Jiang, J., Davis, M.M. Nadeau, K.C. (2018). The Public Health Impact of Parent-Reported Childhood Food Allergies in the United States. Pediatrics 142(6). doi:10.1542/peds.2018-1235.
2. Gupta, R. S., Warren, C. M., Smith, B. M., Jiang, J., Blumenstock, J. A., Davis, M. M., . . . Nadeau, K. C. (2019). Prevalence and Severity of Food Allergies Among US Adults. JAMA Network Open,2(1). doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5630

A milk allergy is an immune system reaction to milk protein. Milk contains many different proteins, but casein and whey are the two groups of proteins most likely to be allergens. Milk allergy can be severe and life-threatening if not treated promptly. There is no cure for milk allergy. Milk allergy can impact a child’s growth and negatively impact their emotional and mental health as well.

It is possible to lead a healthy life without milk. You can successfully manage milk allergy with knowledge, support, and resources. This guide will help you manage milk allergy with confidence.

Closed

What are the symptoms of milk allergy?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Leo in vitae turpis massa sed elementum tempus egestas. Morbi leo urna molestie at elementum eu. Aliquam sem et tortor consequat id porta. Interdum velit laoreet id donec. Tincidunt praesent semper feugiat nibh sed pulvinar. Elit scelerisque mauris pellentesque pulvinar pellentesque. At erat pellentesque adipiscing commodo elit. Leo a diam sollicitudin tempor. Tincidunt eget nullam non nisi est. Vitae justo eget magna fermentum iaculis eu non. Pharetra sit amet aliquam id diam maecenas ultricies.

Viverra accumsan in nisl nisi scelerisque eu ultrices vitae auctor. Convallis posuere morbi leo urna molestie. Elementum pulvinar etiam non quam lacus suspendisse faucibus interdum posuere. Felis bibendum ut tristique et. Ut eu sem integer vitae justo. Vulputate mi sit amet mauris commodo quis imperdiet massa. Penatibus et magnis dis parturient. Senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Aliquam malesuada bibendum arcu vitae. Lorem dolor sed viverra ipsum nunc aliquet bibendum enim facilisis.

How do doctors diagnose milk allergy?

What is the difference between milk allergy, lactose intolerance, and cow's milk protein intolerance?

How can I prevent milk allergy reactions?

Can I have goat's or sheep's milk if I have a milk allergy?

How can I make sure my child gets enough nutrition on a milk-free diet?

What formula options are available for my infant or toddler?

What can I substitute for milk when cooking and baking?

You can find a lot of milk substitutes made from legumes, seeds, and grains. These include rice, hemp, soy, sunflower, oat, and coconut milks. If you are not allergic to nuts, nut milks (such as almond or cashew milk) may be an option too. They are sold in different flavors, as well as sweetened and unsweetened.

You can usually use any of these as a one-for-one replacement for milk in recipes. For example, if a recipe calls for one cup of milk, you can use one cup of soy milk. Unsweetened and unflavored versions tend to work best in recipes.

When cooking, you can substitute non-dairy margarine or oils in equal amounts for butter.

Soy-based, coconut-based, and pea-based yogurt, sour cream, and cream cheese products are available at many grocery stores. Milk-free ice creams and other products are also available. Be sure to check the labels to make sure they don’t contain milk ingredients.

^[7]

Will my child outgrow a milk allergy?

When cooking, you can substitute non-dairy margarine or oils in equal amounts for butter.

Is there a treatment for milk allergy?

When cooking, you can substitute non-dairy margarine or oils in equal amounts for butter.

References

[1] Healthy People 2020

Medical Review ^[8]: June 2022 by John James, MD

View Full Guide ^[9]

View Chef Cards ^[9]

Teal Classroom:
Food Allergy Awareness Kit

Download ^[9]