Health
Food allergy incidence up for kids
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 17, 2008
The number of young people who had a food or digestive allergy increased 18% between 1997 and 2007, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, "Food Allergy Among U.S. Children: Trends in Prevalence and Hospitalizations."
In 2007, approximately 3 million American children and teenagers younger than 18 -- nearly 4% of that age group -- were reported to have a food or digestive allergy in the previous 12 months compared with just slightly more than 2.3 million, or 3.3%, in 1997.
The report found that eight types of food account for 90% of all food allergies. These are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.
Children with food allergies are two to four times more likely than those without to have other related conditions such as asthma.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/11/17/hlbf1117.htm.
