Fear and Allergies in the Classroom

File this one away for the next time someone tells you food allergies are not really a big deal. Newsweek's recent cover article on the recent increase in food allergies is a wonderful introduction to the subject for those not in-the-know, as it explains concisely why parents and researchers alike are so concerned about anaphylactic reactions and tackles some of the theories for why rates of food allergies might be rising.

For parents of kids with food allergies, or for adults with allergies themselves, the most interesting take-away points were hints of what's on the horizon for food allergy research: an update on the current state of immunotherapy, long used to treat environmental allergens but still considered experimental for food allergies; as well as news on the early stages of a trial on whether avoiding peanuts early in life really does help prevent peanut allergies. There's also anecdotal information on how schools deal with the issue of students with severe allergies. Definitely worth a read.

• Newsweek: Fear and Allergies in the Classroom