Adolescents with food allergy: The good, the bad and the beautiful

Rationale: The risk of a food allergy fatality from anaphylaxis is disproportionate among adolescents and young adults.  Understanding positive and negative factors related to risk-taking in this population is critical. There is an urgent need to understand food allergy risk-taking behavior in adolescents given an increase in both prevalence and severity of food allergy, limited research of risk-taking behaviors among food allergic adolescents exists.

Methods: Between June 2014 and January 2015, a web-based survey was administered to 192 adolescents with food allergy (14-22 years old). Participants were recruited electronically through food allergy organizations. Survey questions assessed food allergy history, reactions, support and risk assessment.

Results: Over half of participants (56.6%) reported previously experiencing anaphylaxis. 13% of adolescents do not carry an epinephrine auto-injector, with 68% of this group claiming this is because they do not believe their allergy is severe enough to cause a reaction. Only 10.3% of students claim their classmates know what to do in an emergency. Adolescents reported that female friends are the most supportive of their food allergy, with 81.2% of female friends being credited with support, compared to only 64% of male friends. A high number of adolescents credit their food allergy with teaching them to become more responsible (88.5%) and making them a better advocate of themselves and of others (71.4%).

Conclusions: Improving peer support and awareness for food allergic adolescents is needed. However, it is important to note that living with a food allergy helps develop responsibility and empathy in these adolescents.