If you read Monday’s post, Food Allergy Article Fires Up Moms, you might agree the article brought up many different emotions and reactions. The bottom line is that GREAT food allergy conversation came forth and good things are blossoming as a result, unfortunately we all hope damage was not done by incorrect information being shared. The author wrote a very sincere apology to the community and the Daily Breeze did, what I believe, was a good job in sharing what took place with readers in their response. They highlighted, the frustration, anger and downright foul language written in the comments beneath the article. Realizing the confusion surrounding the conversation between food sensitivities and food allergies in addition to the question if tolerances can be built up to anaphylaxis, the Daily Breeze has scheduled a live online question and answer session for today at 3pm PDT. Dr. Maria Garcia-Lloret, assistant professor of pediatric allergy and immunology at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA will lead the session.
photo courtesy of Stuart Miles via Freedigitalphotos.net
Sign up for the Live Online Q&A with Dr. Maria Garcia-Lloret if you would like to participate. It appears the point of the discussion is to clarify some of the topics that sent parents sailing, such as the author’s giving her child egg to help him out grow his egg allergies. Also, I’m sure the Daily Breeze will soon learn that the information the author cited was not the full story and that her research was not thorough enough for the conversation.
Dr. Allyson Tevrizian mage courtesy of Allergy and Asthma Medical Group of the Bay Area, Inc
I shared the original article with Dr. Allyson Tevrizian, of the Allergy and Asthma Medical Group of the Bay Area, Inc (San Francisco East Bay AREA that is). As a food allergy expert, she too was concerned about people reading this article and taking inappropriate action. I thoroughly enjoyed reading an allergist view point regarding what food allergy parents deal with on a daily basis–it was heart warming actually. Dr. Tevrizian shared….
Dear Caroline,
Thank you for bringing this article to our attention. As Allergists, we see the hardships faced by food allergic children and their families on a daily basis. The article was troublesome on so many levels. First of all her facts were indeed erroneous. The overall incidence of food allergy in adults is 3-4% and in children it is between 6-8%. While some children will outgrow milk, soy, wheat, and egg allergy by age 3 there are several children who will not outgrow these allergies until age 10-14 or even longer. Only 20% or less of children with peanut, tree nut or fish/shellfish allergy will become tolerant in their lifetimes. Thus children and their families have to deal with food allergy into their preschool and in many cases, throughout life.
The author also quotes that since there are “only about 9,500 hospitalizations in the entire country related to children with severe food allergies” the high prevalence of nut allergy in her son’s preschool class surely must be an over exaggeration. Yipes Renee (the author) most kiddos fortunately never have to be hospitalized because of avoidance measures and administration of food allergy action plans in case of accidental exposure! Speaking of accidental exposure, I have no idea why the author felt compelled to share a story of giving her own child who clearly had a minimal food reaction a deliberate exposure outside of medical supervision. T his situation does not translate to the majority of kids with egg allergy. Food desensitization is a very complicated topic and even the food allergy gurus are still working on the mechanics.
I guess the point of the article that troubled me most was the blatant disrespect for the families and children who have to live with this issue on a day to day basis. These children are faced with possible nutritional deficiency, the families have to spend enormous amounts of time ensuring the safety of their children, the children can be ostracized and bullied, and the things most people take for granted: classroom birthdays, vacations, eating out, and even setting up your kitchen are fraught with difficulty. Renee, stick to covering topics on the LA Lakers for goodness sakes!!!
Dr. Tevrizian
Thank you Dr. Tevrizian for providing us with the perspective from the allergist’s food allergy expert perch!
image courtesy of basketman via FreeDigitalphotos.net
I have to say I felt vindicated that I drive about 200 miles for my children to be patients in Dr. Tevrizian’s practice. I have always felt that our family’s allergist, Dr. Joshua Jacobs was partner in my children’s health care and after the above letter, I can easily see that Dr. Tevrizian understands our food allergy community and must partner as well with her patients.
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
I just today read the article, and I will say, I am totally saddened and upset by it. I’m glad she apologized, but the damage is already done. She just made life for a lot of people a whole heck of a lot harder. With all the news of food allergy death lately, you’d think she’d have done her research just a little bit better rather than go off in a hissy fit because her kid couldn’t take cupcakes to school. Just sad. 🙁
Hi Julie,
This is very sad and I have a feeling she will soon become an advocate once she fully understands what she did. We all are hoping and praying, no one gets hurts as a result of bad information.
Thing that upsets me most is that she twisted info from a reputable site to support her argument. That was the most dangerous part.
I agree that she could definitely become an advocate if she got some education on the matter. I begged her to do her research. To find out why food allergies are on the rise. To find out the difference between food allergy and intolerance. To talk to someone who has been through anaphylaxis. To learn all the gruesome details…and then re-read her article. I think THEN she’d see the outrage, ya know?
Good point about re-reading her article. That right there would be a powerful moment.
Let’s hope so. I hope a lot of people get educated and then think about things they’ve said and done in the past, you know? It might cause some horror as they realize their lack of compassion and ignorance…and that is a good sign because it means change is happening. People like her are on my mind all the time, and I never miss a chance to educate when I can.
Thank you for sharing this update. I am glad she apologized but worry about those who read the first article and not the follow up.
I know what you mean Katheryn. Even thought they brought in a doctor for the live chat, it could be too late for a child.
Great post, Caroline!
The other problem is that this article was also published under a different title, on a different website: http://www.ydr.com/opinion/ci_23132331/food-allergies-have-made-parents-little-nutty-column
I commented and mentioned your post on that one, so hopefully people will read the rest of the story, for those who missed it on the Daily Breeze article.
I hope she didn’t post it anywhere else! :/
Selena, Thanks for sharing!