Addressing Common Misconceptions in Food Allergy: A Review

Abstract

Background: Food allergies are common, affecting 1 in 13 school children in the United States and their prevalence is increasing. Many misconceptions exist with regards to food allergy prevention, diagnosis and management. Objective: The main objective of this review is to address misconceptions with regards to food allergies and discuss the optimal, evidence-based approach for patients who carry this diagnosis. Observations: Common misconceptions in terms of food allergy prevention include beliefs that breastfeeding and delayed introduction of allergenic foods prevent the development of food allergies. In terms of diagnosis, statements such as ‘larger skin prick tests or/and higher levels of food-specific IgE can predict the severity of food-induced allergic reactions’, or ‘Tryptase is always elevated in food-induced anaphylaxis’ are inaccurate. Additionally, egg allergy is not a contraindication for receiving the influenza vaccine, food-allergy related fatalities are rare and peanut oral immunotherapy, despite reported benefits, is not a cure for food allergies. Finally, not all infants with eczema will develop food allergies and epinephrine auto-injectors may unfortunately be both unavailable and underused in food-triggered anaphylaxis. Conclusions and relevance: Healthcare professionals must be familiar with recent evidence in the food allergy field and avoid common misunderstandings that may negatively affect prevention, diagnosis and management of this chronic disease.

Beliefs about food allergies in adolescents aged 11–19 years: A systematic review

“…Educating the wider community, beyond immediate peers, is also important for decreasing risk of reactions and reducing the negative impact of diagnosis and FA management. 49 Clinicians should also be aware that socioeconomic and racial factors may affect FA knowledge and should offer further support accordingly. 50 …”

“…Changing beliefs and behaviours of peers through education of FA and FA guidelines through incorporating tools such as a whole school awareness toolkit 48 may improve beliefs and behaviours of those with FA and reduce risky behaviour. Educating the wider community, beyond immediate peers, is also important for decreasing risk of reactions and reducing the negative impact of diagnosis and FA management 49 . Clinicians should also be aware that socioeconomic and racial factors may affect FA knowledge and should offer further support accordingly 50 …”

“…25,46,47 Educating the wider community, beyond immediate peers, is also important for decreasing risk of reactions and reducing the negative impact of diagnosis and FA management. 49 Clinicians should also be aware that socioeconomic and racial factors may affect FA knowledge and should offer further support accordingly. 50 In family relationships, parental support and conflicts with independence were common in adolescents with FA and despite most participants having a good relationship with their parents, some felt their parents wanted to 'control their lives'.…”

The impact of an evidence‐based myth‐busting information intervention on maternal food allergy‐related quality of life, anxiety and self‐efficacy

“…5 We carried out a randomized, controlled, single-centre intervention trial with two parallel groups; allocation 1: The latter was developed specifically for this study (scale reliability α = .91), based on our observations in clinic and literature. 6,7 Respondents indicate agreement (on a 4-point scale) with statements such as 'Nut allergy is airborne' and 'Severe food allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are often fatal'. Five days after completion of baseline measures (Time 1), the intervention group received the 'Myth-busting' leaflet.…”