52 percent had had more than three such reactions during their lifetime. "Teenagers are at high risk of dying from food anaphylaxis, and we wanted to see why," said study senior author Dr. Scott Sicherer, an associate professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "Was it because they thought they were invincible, or because they were forgetful?" Overall, 74 percent of respondents said they always carry
epinephrine, the standard antidote for such allergic reactions, with them. But the percentage varied greatly according to activity, with 94 percent saying they carried epinephrine when traveling, but only 43 percent when playing sports. "Children who were more likely to take risks were less concerned about the allergy," Sicherer stated. "There was an emotional difference." Teens who wore tight clothing tended not to carry their epinephrine; and many did not realize that if they shared water at a sports event, they might end up with a reaction, Sicherer said. In addition, three-quarters said they always read food labels, but 42 percent admitted they would eat a food with a label indicating that it "may contain" an
allergen. Only 60 percent of teens told friends about their
food allergy, and 68 percent felt educating their friends would make life easier. However, most did not want to undertake that education themselves. "They wanted other people to understand, but they didn't want to educate," Sicherer said. Additional research presented at the meeting found that adults who had a severe
allergic reaction to food and were prescribed epinephrine auto injectors (EAIs) had not received adequate follow-up from a health-care professional. Many were also not properly trained in using the device.
Finally, other researchers found that being exposed to peanut during infancy may sensitize a child to the food, and may protect some children from developing the allergy. There was no indication that mothers who ate peanuts while pregnant or breast-feeding increased the risk of their children developing the allergy.
