When your child has a peanut allergy, everyday tasks can turn into a serious health concern.
Actress, entrepreneur, influencer and mom, Tia Mowry found this out for herself when she discovered hives all over her 7-year-old son’s body, which later turned out to be the after-effects of peanut allergy.
“It was terrifying,” she said. “Especially since I had no idea what was causing it.”
Per a survey sponsored by DBV Technologies, a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on food allergies, 1.5 million children in the U.S. are diagnosed with peanut allergies — that's one in every 50.
You May Also Like
Now, the actress is a part of a new educational awareness campaign, “Talking Peanut Allergy,” aimed to ignite a conversation around the challenges of living with a peanut allergy.
Mowry has joined ‘Talking Peanut Allergy’ campaign to share her story with the hope that parents of children with a peanut allergy realize they’re not alone. She said that she hopes the campaign can help create a community where people can inspire, educate and support each other.
Dr. Jacqueline Pongracic, Head of Allergy and Immunology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, explained the challenges of peanut allergy including the risk of accidental exposure and factors that contribute to the unpredictable nature of the condition.
“Peanut allergy is on the rise, and unfortunately we haven’t pinned down a reason why,” Dr. Pongracic said. “But, parents can feel more empowered to educate themselves on risk factors and treatments so their child can feel safer facing the facing the allergy.
You May Also Like
Tia said she felt alone until she discovered how many other children and their parents are facing the same challenge. "My goal is to share my experience to let all the moms out there know that they are not alone in this and to help people understand the stress that comes along with having a child with peanut allergy."
Visit TalkingPeanutAllergy.com for more information on the initiative.
Jasmine Browley holds an MA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and has contributed to Ebony, Jet and MADE Magazine among others. So, clearly, she knows some stuff. Follow her digital journey @JasmineBrowley.
