Understanding and Managing Your Child's Food Allergies (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) [Hardcover]

Scott H. Sicherer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2006 | Series: A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book

For children with food allergies, eating—one of the basic functions of life—can be a nightmare. Children who suffer or become dangerously ill after eating peanuts, seafood, milk, eggs, wheat, or a host of other foods require constant vigilance from caring, concerned parents, teachers, and friends.

In this empathetic and comprehensive guide, Dr. Scott H. Sicherer, a specialist in pediatric food allergies, gives parents the information they need to manage their children’s health and quality of life. He describes why children develop food allergy, the symptoms of food allergy (affecting the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and the respiratory system), and the role of food allergy in behavioral problems and developmental disabilities. Parents will learn how to recognize emergency situations, how to get the most out of a visit with an allergist, what allergy test results mean, and how to protect their children—at home, at school, at summer camp, and in restaurants.

Informative, compassionate, and practical, this guide will be indispensable for parents, physicians, school nurses, teachers, and everyone else who cares for children with food allergies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Sicherer has put together in one welcomed source the wisdom of his many years of experience and the latest research... Approachable and straightforward, his book provides parents with practical advice.

(Library Journal (starred review) 2006)

Sicherer has put together in one welcomed source the wisdom of his many years of experience... approachable and straightforward.

(Library Journal 2007)

Provides families with state-of-the-art education about food allergy.

(Robert A. Wood, M.D., Director, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center 2008)

This book is an amazing compilation of the essential information needed to work with your doctor, discuss your child's food allergy with other caregivers and your child, and, ultimately, provide your child with the best care possible. It is the only resource I know of that provides timely, accurate, and accessible information on every medical aspect of food allergy.

(from the Introduction by Hugh A. Sampson, M.D., Director, The Jaffe Food Allergy Institute )

Dr. Sicherer is a rare combination of brains, compassion, understanding, and practicality... A reference tool that belongs in everyone's bookcase.

(from the Foreword by Anne Muñoz-Furlong, Founder and CEO, The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network )

This work presents the practical strategies for day-to-day living with food allergies in an unalarming narrative with case studies that serve to illustrate and illuminate key points... Recommended.

(Choice )

A thorough overview... The information is useful to parents and others who take care of children with food allergies.

(Yesim Yilmaz-Demirdag, Sami Bahna Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology )

About the Author

Scott H. Sicherer, M.D., is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a researcher in the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the author of The Complete Peanut Allergy Handbook.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press; 1 edition (October 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801884918
• ISBN-13: 978-0801884917
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #535,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great overview of food allergies, January 6, 2007

By 

C. Matte "dinosmile" (Wilmington, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding and Managing Your Child's Food Allergies (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) (Paperback)

My 14 month old was just diagnosed with some potentially life-threatening food allergies and I felt like I couldn't easily get the information/support I wanted. This book has helped me become more informed and feed more prepared. He begins by explaining what causes an allergic reaction and then goes on to explain diagnosing allergies, treatment options, recognizing an allergic reaction (and the severity), and also includes a section on the long-term emotional/social implications of food allergies. There is a section that lists various allergens in foods, how likely it is that a child will outgrow them, and how common they are. He includes a ton of real-life case-studies, which not only help to clarify his point, but reminded me that I'm not the only one feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and sad about my child's allergies. While there is no replacement for the allergist who knows your child and their history, this book filled in a lot of blanks in questions I didn't even know I wanted to ask! I will pass this on to family members who are interested in learning more and highly recommend it to others.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutlely the best book on Food Allergies around!!!, May 27, 2007

By 

Mom (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding and Managing Your Child's Food Allergies (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) (Paperback)

We have been managing my child's food allergies for the past 5 years - I have read many, many books on the subject. This one is the absolute best! As much as I understood about food allergies, I still had many questions. This book has helped to clear up most of them. Many of the books on food allergy create a sense of panic, especially when you are new to the situation. The information in this book takes some of the anxiety out of everyday life - our children can have normal, healthy, fun-filled lives!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must if you have a child with allergies!!!, January 18, 2007

By 

M. Hardy (Leesburg, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding and Managing Your Child's Food Allergies (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) (Paperback)

This is a great resource for Parents and caregivers with children suffering food allergies. I've found most Doctor's, even Allergists, do not take a proactive role in educating the Parent on how to manage such a lifestyle changing issue. I found this book and Dr. Sicherer does an outstanding job putting the processes of food allergies in layman's terms and describes the many steps in working through the issues related to this health concern. Best of luck if your just learning about food allergies, like me, but luckily, many children seem to grow out of some allergies with time - keeping my fingers crossed!!!