April 7-13 is World Allergy Week 2019 (www.worldallergyweek.org). This organization has dedicated the 2019 week to raise awareness of the global problem of food allergy. Often, I tend to get so focused on the food allergic patients and families we care for in north Texas that I fail to remember the global impact of food allergies.
The prevalence and complexity of food allergy has been increasing as well as the severity of anaphylaxis episodes resulting in increased hospital admissions worldwide over the last decade – now that’s a significant public health issue.
Eliminating multiple foods due to allergy can lead to growth deficiencies, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies leading to far-reaching negative consequences for population health. The scientific community is beginning to evaluate the increasing health consequences and associated costs of food allergy.
One of the ways Family Allergy and Asthma Care (FAAC) moves the process along is to participate in the Food Allergy Consortium. We enter our food allergic patient data anonymously into a national data bank for the entire purpose of studying food allergies and outcomes of various treatments. This type of participation allows FAAC to accomplish our mission of treating every patient as an individual with unique stories and circumstance, yet contribute to making a difference globally.
Public awareness about food allergies is a paramount! So, thanks for reading. Next up, I’ll write about some of the exciting food allergy therapies that are in the pipeline.
Dr. Mary Hudelson
Contact our office today to speak with our board-certified allergists and staff. We are here to serve you! Call 972.539.0086 or learn more.
