Teens Living with Food Allergies
Below is an excerpt from a recent article published by a high school sophomore. He shares his insights on the challenges of living life as a teen with multiple food allergies. We share this as another reminder of why Alerje’s Treatment x Lifestyle approach is built for the patient of today and tomorrow.
May is Food Allergy Awareness Month, which is an opportunity to think about how the Syracuse community can be more educated about this important issue.
It’s pretty safe to say almost everyone knows someone with a food allergy. In fact, 32 million Americans have food allergies, and 1 in 13 children have food allergies. The age group at the highest risk for fatal reactions are teenagers.
There are several reasons the teenage years are the most dangerous for food allergies. Teenagers want to fit in and don’t like to draw attention to themselves. So, many teens with food allergies are embarrassed to talk about their allergies or to be seen carrying their epinephrine auto-injector. Instead of speaking up, they may ignore or downplay symptoms until a reaction gets out of control.
The teen years are also when kids start having their own social lives. They have less parental supervision because now they go out with friends. They must manage their allergies more independently, such as at parties and restaurants.
Because their brains are still developing, teenagers are more likely to engage in risky behavior. In teens with food allergies, risky behavior (such as simply eating a cookie at a party without knowing the ingredients) can become deadly in a manner of seconds.
As a teenager with food allergies myself, I know firsthand how hard it can be to balance managing allergies with trying to be a “normal” teen. Teens are already under a lot of stress and food allergies make it even worse.
Any food allergy death is one too many. There are several steps we as a community can take to support children and teens with food allergies.
In schools, we can work to clearly label the ingredients of cafeteria food. Not only is this safer, it can make a teen feel more “normal” if they can eat school food at least once in a while. It would be helpful if school vending machines also had clear labeling so people with food allergies can see the ingredients before purchasing something.
One of the best steps local schools can take is to educate all students and faculty about food allergies. This could be a few minutes of classroom time, posters around school or even offering a brief training on how to use an auto-injector, which hopefully can be found in the school.
The main way to decrease fatalities among teens is to offer support and encourage them to talk about their allergies. It is critical for teens to tell their friends about their allergies. Friends need to know what a reaction looks like and what to do if they are with their friend when a reaction occurs, because seconds count.
Also, just because someone has food allergies, doesn’t mean you should be afraid to invite them to birthday parties or social events. Let the allergic person know what you are serving and that they are welcome to bring a safe food they can enjoy. This makes everyone feel comfortable.
A little understanding goes a long way. People with food allergies aren’t trying to make other people’s life complicated, they are trying to stay alive.
If we are all aware what a food allergy is, how to identify it, and know what to do in case of an emergency, food allergy fatalities among teens can be prevented.
About the Author:
The above article is taken from a special Syracuse article titled “Teen: Speaking up about food allergies saves lives (Commentary)” written by Olivier Deldicque, 16, a sophomore at Christian Brothers Academy. He’s also the author of the book “When Every Bite Matters: One Teen’s Journey With Food Allergies.”
