CDC Study Finds 3 Million U.S. Children Have Food or Digestive Allergies

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Oct 22,2008

The number of young people who had a food or digestive allergy increased 18 percent between 1997 and 2007, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2007, approximately 3 million U.S. children and teenagers under age 18 — or nearly 4 percent of that age group — were reported to have a food or digestive allergy in the previous 12 months, compared to just over 2.3 million (3.3 percent) in 1997.

The findings are published in a new data brief, “Food Allergy Among U.S. Children: Trends in Prevalence and Hospitalizations.” The data are from the National Health Interview Survey and the National Hospital Discharge Survey, both conducted by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

The report found that eight types of food account for 90 percent of all food allergies: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. Reactions to these foods by an allergic person can range from a tingling sensation around the mouth and lips, to hives and even death, depending on the severity of the reaction.

Children with food allergy are two to four times more likely to have other related conditions such as asthma and other allergies, compared to children without food allergies, the report said.

Other highlights:

  • Boys and girls had similar rates of food allergy — 3.8 percent for boys and 4.1 percent for girls.
  • Approximately 4.7 percent of children younger than 5 years had a reported food allergy compared to 3.7 percent of children and teens aged 5 to 17 years.
  • Hispanic children had lower rates of reported food allergy (3.1 percent) than non-Hispanic white (4.1 percent) or non-Hispanic black children (4 percent.)
  • In 2007, 29 percent of children with food allergy also had reported asthma compared to 12 percent of children without food allergy.
  • Approximately 27 percent of children with food allergy had reported eczema or skin allergy, compared to 8 percent of children without food allergy.
  • ver 30 percent of children with food allergy also had reported respiratory allergy, compared with 9 percent of children with no food allergy.
  • From 2004 to 2006, there were approximately 9,537 hospital discharges per year with a diagnosis related to food allergy among children from birth to 17 years. Hospital discharges with a diagnosis related to food allergy increased significantly over time between 1998-2000 through 2004-2006.

The mechanisms by which a person develops an allergy to specific foods are largely unknown. Food allergy is more prevalent in children than adults. Most affected children will outgrow food allergies, although food allergy can be a lifelong concern.

The full report is available at www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Families will visit pumpkin patches this month and then take pumpkins home to carve them into jack-o-lanterns. While pumpkin carving is as much a part of Halloween as trick-or-treating, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) has some tips for how to prevent hand injuries so the whole family can safely enjoy the experience.

“Each Halloween hand surgeons treat patients with cuts, or more severe injuries of the tendons, arteries or nerves because of carving mishaps,” said Dr. L. Andrew Koman, president of ASSH. “Pumpkin carving can be safe, but parents need to be on guard for potential dangers. There are ways to avoid many of these injuries.”

The ASSH urges safe practices when pumpkin carving this season and has outlined the following measures to help parents insure the family is safe while carving.

1. Carve in a Clean, Dry and Well-Lit Area

Wash and thoroughly dry all of the tools that you will use to carve the pumpkin: carving tools, knife, cutting surface, and your hands. Any moisture on your tools, hands or the table can cause slipping that can lead to injuries.

2. Leave the Carving to Adults

Never let children do the carving. Parents may allow kids to draw a pattern on the pumpkin and have them be responsible for cleaning out the inside pulp and seeds. When the adults do start cutting, they should always cut away from themselves and cut in small, controlled strokes.

3. Pick Utensils Carefully

A larger and sharper knife is not necessarily better because it often becomes wedged in the thicker part of the pumpkin, requiring force to remove it. An injury can occur if your hand is in the wrong place when the knife finally dislodges from the thick skin of the pumpkin. People are also injured when the knife slips and comes out the other side of the pumpkin where a hand may be holding it steady.

4. Use a Pumpkin Carving Kit

According to research done by hand surgeons, pumpkin carving saws require less force to pierce the pumpkins than a serrated or a plain kitchen knife. Therefore, the carving saws may be less likely to cause injury(1). Injuries may still occur so families must exercise caution with any carving tool.

5. Use a Pumpkin Decorating Kit

The safest option is pumpkin painting or decorating. Kids can express their creativity with paint and other items that can be glued or attached to the pumpkin.

If an Injury Occurs

If an injury occurs such as a cut on the finger or hand, applying pressure to the wound with a clean cloth will often stop the bleeding. If continuous pressure does not slow or stop the bleeding after 15 minutes, or if the sensation, color or function of the finger(s) is otherwise diminished, an emergency room visit may be required.

For More Information

To identify a local hand surgeon spokesperson in your market, please call Jennifer Gremmels, ASSH, at 847-384-1437. Please also visit http://www.handcare.org/ for pumpkin safety photos and more information on hand safety.

(1) Alexander M. Marcus M.D., J. K. (2004, June). The safety of pumpkin carving tools . Preventive Medicine , pp. 799-803.

Source: American Society for Surgery of the Hand


Some 2.3 million children a year, mostly from low- to middle-income families, have no health care coverage to pay for preventive or other medical needs, even though at least one of their parents is insured, according to a new study supported by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Center for Research Resources, part of HHS’ National Institutes of Health.

The new study, published in the Oct. 22/29, 2008, online issue of JAMA, is one of the first to examine the characteristics of uninsured children under age 19 whose parents were insured all year. These children account for a quarter of the estimated 9 million uninsured children in the United States.

Researchers led by Jennifer DeVoe, M.D., of the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, studied 2002-2005 national data from AHRQ’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and found that children from low-income families where at least one parent had health insurance were more than twice as likely to be uninsured at some point during the year as were similar children from high-income families. They were also 73 percent more likely to be uninsured for more than 6 months. In 2005, a typical, low-income family of four earned between roughly $24,000 and $39,000, whereas the typical high-income family of four earned more than $77,000 a year.

Children from middle-income families — those earning between $39,000 and $77,000 a year for a typical four-member family — had a 48 percent greater chance of being uninsured with at least one insured parent at some point during the year compared with high-income children and had a 56 percent higher likelihood of being uninsured for over 6 months.

“These findings add to our understanding of children’s health care coverage gaps,” said AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. “When children are insured, they have improved access to a regular source of care, including preventive health services.” Dr. Clancy added that some of the low-income uninsured children likely qualify for public coverage, but their parents may not be aware of their eligibility.

The researchers also found that:

  • Children living with an insured single parent had two times the odds of being uninsured at any point during the year as children living with two married people of whom at least one was insured and more than twice the odds of having a coverage gap lasting 6 months or more.
  • Children with at least one parent who did not complete high school were 44 percent more likely than children whose parent or parents were high school graduates to be uninsured at any point during the year, and they had 87 percent greater odds of being uninsured for more than 6 months.
  • Hispanic children had a 65 percent higher probability than non-Hispanic, white children of being uninsured at some point during the year with an insured parent and an 80 percent greater chance of being uninsured for more than 6 months.
  • Children whose parents had Medicaid or other public insurance were 54 percent less likely to be uninsured at any point during the year than children with privately insured parents and 59 percent less likely to be uninsured for more than 6 months.
  • Children living in the South and those in the West had 70 percent and 52 percent greater odds, respectively, of being uninsured at some point during a year with a parent covered all year, compared to children living in the Northeast. They also had an 83 percent and 49 percent greater likelihood, respectively, of being uninsured for more than 6 months.

The study was supported in part by the Biostatistics Shared Resource of the Oregon Health & Science University and the Oregon Clinical Translational Research Institute, which is part of a national Clinical and Translational Science Award consortium funded through the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health.

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality


New Treatment for People with Epilepsy

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Oct 21,2008

Vimpat (lacosamide), a new treatment for adults with partial onset epilepsy, and which is to be used as an add-on to patients’ current therapy, has been launched in the UK.

Epilepsy currently affects more than 450,000 people in the UK; one person in every 131, and despite the fact that there are presently 18 different anti-epileptic drugs available, it is estimated that around a third of people with epilepsy still experience seizures despite treatment with these medications. Epilepsy can have a huge impact on the work, social and personal lives of those with the illness, as well as their family and friends.

“For those who are still experiencing seizures, despite trying many treatments, this launch is very positive news. Epilepsy can have a major impact, not just on those with the condition but on their family and friends too. Each seizure has the very real potential to disrupt someone’s day-to-day life, including their ability to learn, work and socialise. We welcome this new treatment, giving people with epilepsy another valuable option,” says Simon Wigglesworth, Epilepsy Action.

Side effects are common with add-on anti-epilepsy drugs. In clinical trials, Lacosamide when added to a broad range of the most commonly used anti-epileptic drugs, showed no clinically relevant drug-to-drug interactions. It can be given as a tablet, a syrup or intravenously.

“The arrival of a new treatment option which has the potential to help people better control their condition is extremely positive. Understandably, my patients are often extremely anxious about the prospect of living with seizures. I look forward to being able to integrate this new drug into my practice; my aim is always to offer my patients the best I can to help manage their epilepsy,” said Ley Sander, Professor of Neurology and Clinical Epilepsy at the UCL Institute of Neurology, London.

Summary of Product Characteristics

http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/DisplayDoc.asp?DocumentID=21158

References

1. National Society for Epilepsy. Epilepsy: Information on epileptic seizures. Available http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/PAGES/whatsnew/pr/ep_facts.cfm [Accessed 15 August 2008]

2. Shorvan, S. Handbook of Epilepsy Treatment. Second Edition. Blackwell Publishing 2005

3. VIMPAT(R) Summary of Product Characteristics

Source: UCB


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