Allergies on the rise.....
Over the last 40 years there has been a dramatic rise in the number of people, particularly children, suffering food allergies with a significant increase in allergies to fruit and vegetables.
Between 20 to 30% of Brits believe they are intolerant to one or more foods and according to Allergy UK it is estimated that 1 in 50 children have an allergy to peanuts. With a rise in the number of fruit and vegetable allergies it is questionable whether this will become the new allergy epidemic of the noughties, much like peanut allergies in the nineties.
At such a young age it can be difficult for parents to cope with managing a severe allergy; however there are practical solutions to minimising the risk of living with allergies. Alexander Lambert, 15, from Essex has been a registered member of The MedicAlert Foundation for nearly 5 years. Alex has a severe allergy to bananas and when Alex was aged 11 he suffered his first reaction causing severe swelling and a nasty rash.
MedicAlert provides a life saving identification system for people with hidden medical conditions, allergies and advance wishes. Chris Lunn says, Communications Manager says:-
‘More than 285,000 people in the UK have so far benefited from the MedicAlert service and we would continue to urge all those with hidden medical conditions to take advantage of the MedicAlert service.'
This life saving identification system takes the form of body-worn bracelets or necklets (known as MedicAlert® Emblems) which bear the MedicAlert® symbol on the disc and are engraved with important medical details and any other main medical conditions or allergies, a personal ID number and a 24 hour emergency telephone number.
By phoning the emergency number, they can also gain further medical and personal information such as the member's name and address, doctor's details, current drug therapy and next of kin.
Peter Simmons, Information Manager at Allergy UK also supports the work of MedicAlert:-
"‘It is important that young people with allergies are not excluded from activities and live life as normally as possible. Having a MedicAlert identification system brings peace of mind to both the sufferer and their family particularly as they become more independent and go out into the world"
