Some kids live on peanut butter, but there are others who could die from it. My daughter has an allergy to peanuts so severe that it can cause death in a matter of minutes. My son is allergic to milk products. They bring on a mild case of hives. T hese are typical examples of children's food allergy symptoms that parents report to school nurses and administrators.
Most people incorrectly use the term to describe any and all adverse reactions to foods.
In a 1992 study, almost 17 percent of U.S. households reported at least one individual with a food allergy. However, scientists believe true food allergies affect only 5 to 8 percent of children. The exceptions are peanut or tree nut allergies, which are likely to be lifelong. A food allergy is an immune-system response to a food that the body misidentifies as a harmful invader. Once the body makes this determination, it creates antibodies and other chemical reactors, including histamine, to protect itself.