This research project of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America was made possible with support from DBV Technologies.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and its food allergy division, Kids With Food Allergies (KFA), recently set out to capture the impact of food allergies on quality of life. We conducted a three-part study titled “My Life With Food Allergy.” The survey examined three groups:
- Parents of children with food allergies
- Teens/young adults with food allergies
- Adults with food allergies
With 32 million people in the U.S. with food allergies, we must talk about better ways to manage and support people with this condition. We hope this report will encourage the conversation.
AAFA has released the first report on the finding of the survey – the My Life With Food Allergy: Parent Survey Report. This report summarizes the emotional, social and financial impact on the parent or caregiver of a child with food allergies. Here are some highlights of the key findings:
- Mental and emotional impact – parent caregivers report a higher burden than do patients age 13 and older
- Social impact – families often skip events and change routines due to food allergies
- Financial and time impact – managing food allergies can require a great deal of time and money and cause some parents to make career changes
“It is becoming increasingly apparent how food allergies negatively impact the life of not only children and adults with allergies, but also their families and caregivers,” stated Kenneth Mendez, AAFA’s CEO and President. “School social activities, going out to restaurants, birthday parties and Halloween can be fun times for many. But for families living with food allergies, those events can feel like minefields. They must be constantly vigilant to keep their loved ones safe. It is critical for us to utilize our new findings to develop the necessary resources for individuals and families so they can feel more confident and supported.”
Read our My Life With Food Allergy: Parent Survey Report to learn more about how food allergies affect families’ quality of life. Help us raise awareness by sharing the report. And if you have a child with food allergies, join the Kids With Food Allergies online support forums.
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