The public health burden of food allergies (FA) among children in the United States continues to grow and is an area of active research. The current estimates are that food allergy affects 32 million people in the U.S. (6 million children and 26 million adults).1,2 It is critical that we discuss better ways to not only manage it, but to also better support people with food allergies and their families.
In 2019, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and its food allergy division, Kids With Food Allergies (KFA), conducted a three-part food allergy 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 and adults with food allergies.
This survey sought insights on the following topics:
The first report from this study – the My Life With Food Allergy: Parent Survey Report – summarizes 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.
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:
Some additional detailed findings from the report include:
“It is becoming increasingly apparent how food allergies negatively impact the life of not only children and adults with allergies, but also their families and caregivers,” stated Kenneth Mendez, AAFA’s CEO and President. “School social activities, going out to restaurants, birthday parties and Halloween can be fun times for many. But for families living with food allergies, those events can feel like minefields. They must be constantly vigilant to keep their loved ones safe. It is critical for us to utilize our new findings to develop the necessary resources for individuals and families so they can feel more confident and supported.”
The parent survey report also identified unmet needs in these areas:
For more information, read the full report below or download it as a PDF: My Life With Food Allergy: Parent Survey Report.
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”
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