"Everyone's Gone Nuts" -- A doctor responds to the Harper's Magazine article

Pictures of children in gas masks holding food (such as the cover of the November 5, 2007 issue of Newseek) do little to combat fear while at the same time downplaying the very real significance of food allergy and anaphylaxis does little for the emotional or physical wellbeing of the food allergic and their families.

Education and empowerment are key ingredients to combating the natural fear that comes with having food allergies. Misinformation and unaddressed fear has lead to social isolation, anxiety and eating disorders for some. I have met families that kept their children from interacting with others for fear of allergen exposure. With education and support, people with food allergies can have manageable and enjoyable lives.

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Dr. Michael Pistiner:

Dr. Michael Pistiner is currently a fellow in Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School and is in his final year of the Scholars in Clinical Science Program of Harvard Medical School (masters program in patient based research). Over the last 2 years he has developed a special interest in pediatric food allergy and in the management of food allergy in schools. Within the last 4 months he has seen first hand the critical importance of community wide education as his pre-school aged son experienced anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction) after eating a small amount of walnut. He is committed to the use of practical food allergy education to replace fear and divisiveness with empowerment, confidence, and unity. Upon completion of his fellowship in July 2008, he will return to New York State and join Allergy & Asthma Consultants of Rockland & Bergen.

ENDNOTES

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6. Eriksson NE, Moller C, Werner S, Magnusson J, Bengtsson U. The hazards of kissing when you are food allergic. A survey on the occurrence of kiss-induced allergic reactions among 1139 patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2003; 13:149-54.

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