Halloween Candy Allergies

Parents and kids may want to be a little more careful with their Halloween candy this year.

More and more kids have serious food allergies and don't know it until they take one bite of the wrong thing.

Denise Bunning has two children with severe food allergies. Her son, Bryan, was rushed to the hospital after eating just one gummy worm.

"The bulk container previously had contained a chocolate nut. So, just the residue on the gummy worm was enough to cause my child to have an anaphylactic reaction," Bunning said.

Six to 8 percent of kids under age three have a food allergy. Genetics may play a small role, but nobody knows the basic cause of the allergies.

Allergist Dr. Jacqueline Pongracic said some children's bodies treat certain foods like allergens.

"They develop an immune response to that food, and that leads to developing symptoms," Pongracic said.

Symptoms include an itchy red rash, hives or vomiting. In severe cases, the child could experience life-threatening anaphalaxis. The body goes into shock, blood pressure drops, and the child goes into severe respiratory distress.

Experts say eight foods are the most common culprits: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.

Some children, like Bunning's sons, wear MedicAlert bracelets and carry EpiPens for a quick epinephrine injection. But there is no magic cure. Parents and children have to check ingredients on every food label.

"I always have a rule of three. I read it at the grocery store, I read it when I put it away, and I read it when I feed it," Bunning said.

Doctors say most children tend to outgrow milk, egg and wheat allergies. But sensitivity to peanuts, tree nuts or shellfish could be a lifelong issue.

Copyright 2003 by NBC 10. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Author: NBC10