Reducing the growing burden of food allergy requires a chronic disease management model, clarification of responsibilities, and better communication of both risks and uncertainties
Food allergy and anaphylaxis are increasing in the Australian community, particularly in preschool-aged children,1,2 although, paradoxically, mortality occurs almost exclusively in school-aged children and adults.3 Food allergy and anaphylaxis are high-stakes and highly uncertain issues, where the outcome may be the sudden and unpredictable death of a child.4
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- 1 Department of Allergy and Immunology, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW.
- 2 Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.
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