What harm can a little nut do?

It seems like such a simple question, but it's not. What harm can one tiny little nut do? How much damage could really be done by a nut? An allergic reaction to any food can be mild to life-threatening. The most common symptoms of a allergic reaction to food includes hives, itchy rash, swelling, itching, tingling or swelling of the lips, tongue or mouth, vomiting, abdominal cramps or diarrhea. Not enough for you?

Other symptoms could include coughing, trouble breathing, wheezing, a decline in blood pressure or loss of consciousness. Most often symptoms occur within minutes of eating the food, reactions can actually present up to two to four hours later.

It's hard to predict what symptoms will occur during a food allergy reaction. And the
symptoms that occur during that reaction could appear to be a mild reaction and quickly turn more severe and dangerous. And just because a reaction is particular one time, doesn't mean it will be the next time around. That same person could react differently each time they have an exposure to the culprit. My son's allergist said that each reaction will only cause the exposure risk to become higher and make the next exposure worse.

Over 12 million Americans have food allergies, according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). So why isn't there more information out there? Because those with food allergies are in the minority. There are over 300 million people in the United States. The numbers just don't cause enough people to pause. "One in ever 17 children under the age of 3 has a food allergy," says FAAN.

Those who have moderate to severe reactions, don't even remember them oftentimes. I think about my Owen and his last reaction; sometimes I wonder if it is a blessing that he doesn't remember his reaction. Mostly, I wish he did. I wish he understood what the reaction did to his body. He was sick for months afterward. He developed asthma because of it. Ultimately, it is believed his acid reflux is closely associated with it as well. The damage to the body is irreversible. He will always have problems with his lungs, but more importantly, he will always risk losing his life. If you get nothing more from this post, please know that food allergies are serious. Sometimes you think a little drop of milk or a tiny egg or a tiny peanut are no big deal, but they are. They are the difference between life and death for some.