The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network has written a response to Dr. Christakis's column in the British Medical Journal. You can read it using the link below:
http://www.foodallergy.org/media/HotTopics/deathfromfa.html
You fail to recognize that the people being protected have already shown that peanuts have a deadly potential. A peanut on a school bus is not "early exposure." It could mean the death of my severely allergic 10 year old. Repeated exposures cause increased sensitivity and severity of reaction. We live in constant fear of people like you disregarding the importance of COMPLETE AVOIDANCE. You are merely a professional bystander with no spiritual or emotional attachment to the stress associated with loving and caring for someone who's life can be taken by something as seemingly harmless as a peanut. Try looking at it as if it were a gun, aimed directly at your child. Looks a little different, doesn't it?
I can't say that I do know the fear that your 10 year old might face. But then again, maybe that fear is quite irrational. I mean your 10 year old has made it this far.
Could it be that your fear is excessive and might actually be doing more harm to this child than the peanuts themselves?
You liken having a peanut allergy to having a gone pointed at your head. But I bet that you put your child in a car and venture out onto the roadways on a regular basis. And whatever you do, DON'T let your child swim in a pool or ocean!
Living in fear ain't no way to live. Relax. Take precautions. Don't panic.
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Firstly, lets be Clear Here...
We are talking about Immediate / IgE > Eat a Peanut, SeaFood = Trouble ! > FOOD Allergies.
Because of their very "Immediate" nature..
Immediate FOOD Allergy Testing normally confirms what a Mother or Sufferer already suspects...
A Blood IgE Test is NOT an absolute > but rather a Medically Prudent Diagnostic Tool.... if an IgE Food Allergy is suspected.. ...
An "Order of Magnitude" Indicator / Scale if you will .. typically with a Scoring of 1-5 or so..based on IgE Levels.
To say / assume a Sufferer...
with a IgE Peanut Score of 1 Vs a Score of 5 ..have the "Same" Immediate Degree of Allergy Reaction / Danger is an over simplification...
Every Patient is different / has a Different Threshold.
This is where Your Allergy Dr. comes in.... especially with IgE FOOD Allergy ...
It is up to him / her to Measure ...
then Define YOUR Childs "Degree" of Allergy ..and provide You / Mother with the appropriate guidance as to the Degree of Severity & How Best to deal with it.
While..
I always say > Never get between a Momma Bear & Her Cubs ..
It is Important for Allergy Diagnostic Professionals to Educate / Advise Mothers of Children with FOOD Allergies ...
Not with Broad BrushStroke Guidance i.e. do not eat / go near Peanuts ...
that leads to misdirected extreem Mother Protection...
but ... with Patient Specific / Degree of Sensitivity Information ... on which a Mother can Act correctly towared the protection of her Cub.