hen I was four years old, I drank my first glass of milk in a hospital, with an IV drip in my hand to administer emergency medication in case I had a severe allergic reaction.The doctors were carrying out a food challenge to see if I could tolerate cow's milk, which I'd been allergic to since I was tiny.
* I was first given a drop of milk on my tongue, followed by a few sips, and eventually a full glass.
* These challenges happened regularly and often resulted in vomiting and a rash, but luckily nothing more serious.
* I outgrew my dairy allergy at the age of 7.
* But to this day, I can't drink a glass of dairy milk as it makes me feel nauseous, presumably because my mind still associates the taste with feeling sick.I was a highly allergic child, suffering from dairy, egg and nut allergies.
* Looking back, all the warning signs that I would develop food allergies were there.
* Not only did I have a history of allergies in my family, I also suffered from severe eczema as a baby, which doctors now say is a red flag.I was lucky, I never suffered from anaphylaxis, when allergens cause the immune system to go into a state of shock and trigger severe and potentially life-threatening symptoms which can include breathing problems, vomiting and a weak pulse. Instead I would suffer from hives, stomach cramps and an itchy throat if I ate any dairy or eggs. I have only accidentally once had a tiny amount of peanut, which caused severe vomiting and stomach cramps, but luckily no hospitalisation.
* My food allergies meant my diet was severely restricted during childhood. There weren't a wide range of dairy-free alternatives available during the 1990s, so I spent the first eight years of my life missing out on cake, chocolate and cheese. This may seem like a small sacrifice – after all, many people voluntarily skip such treats, be it to cut their sugar intake or avoid animal products. But food allergies are different. They mean constantly having to be alert to potential threats in every meal.
* Those living with them probably won't be surprised to hear that food allergies are known to impact the quality of life and mental health of children and adolescents, as well as their families. And while in the UK, deaths from allergic reactions to food have declined over the past 20 years, there are still cases of fatal anaphylaxis.
* I was lucky to outgrow two of my three allergies (dairy and eggs) and today they don't impact my daily life. But allergies are becoming a daily worry for more and more children and parents, often causing severe anxiety and stress.
* The medical advice has changed hugely since I suffered from food allergies as a child.
* Rather than practicing strict avoidance, doctors are encouraging parents of children at risk of allergies to introduce them to peanuts, eggs, milk and other potential allergens as soon as they start having solid foods. Could these scientific advances help us save future generations from the stress and danger of food allergies – and perhaps even make existing cases less severe?
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