If it seems like childhood food allergies are more common than they used to be, it is because they are: nearly one in 10 preschoolers have allergies to food, and the rate of such allergies has more than doubled in the past decade. For kids with severe allergies, the condition can restrict normal everyday activities like eating out, and often results in frequent trips to the emergency room. But public awareness is growing, and there are promising developments in research and treatment.

Host:

Guests:

Kari Nadeau M.D., associate professor of allergies and immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucille Packard Children's Hopsital
Melanie Thernstrom, contributing writer for the New York Times magazine

More info:

Apps Offer Few Shortcuts for Those With Food Allergies (Bay Area Bites)
Students With Food Allergies Make Legal Gains (Bay Area Bites)
A Cure for Food Allergies? (Forum)

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KQED's Forum: Kids and Food Allergies