Food allergies are a growing health concern globally.
In fact, there has been an 18% increase in food allergies from 1997 to 2007.¹ Food allergies affect 15 million people nationally, 9 million adults and 6 million children.² The prevalence of allergic diseases worldwide is rising dramatically in both developed and developing countries. These diseases include asthma, rhinitis, anaphylaxis, drug, food and insect allergy, urticaria (hives) and angioedema. This increase is especially problematic in children, who are bearing the greatest burden of the rising trend which has occurred over the last two decades. There are 8 foods that account for 90% of food allergic reactions - milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.¹

Children with food allergies often have a history of atopic dermatitis and are at a higher risk for asthma and other allergic conditions. Additionally, children with food allergy are up to four times more likely to have asthma, compared with children without food allergies³.

When it comes to food allergies, it’s time we started talking about proteins, because a yes or no diagnosis of food allergy is no longer enough. Allergen component testing can give you more detailed information about your child’s food allergies, so you can determine their potential level of risk to certain foods and create a personalised management plan.

If you suspect food allergies, consider looking deeper. See how component testing may complete the picture for you or your child:

CASE STUDIES

	A Case Study: “Thabo”
	Learn how testing allowed Thabo to sit at the lunch table with his friends.

	A Case Study: “Elizabeth”
	A history of eczema and other symptoms gave Elizabeth’s doctor a reason to test

	A Case Study: “Thomas”
	Teenagers sometimes need test results to reinforce the seriousness of a diagnosis

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1. Branum AM, et al. Pediatrics. Food allergies among children in the United States. 2009;124:1549-1555.; Gupta RS, et al. Pediatrics. The prevalence, severity, and distribution of childhood food allergy in the united states. 2011;128:e9-e17. 2. Food Allergy Research & Education Website. Available at: http://www.foodallergy.org/document.doc?id=127. 3. Roberts, G. Food allergy as a risk factor for life threatening asthma in childhood: A case-controlled study. J Allergy C Immunol. 2003; 112 (1): 168-174.