The Emotional Burden of Peanut Allergy – Interview with Tia Mowry
THE EMOTIONAL BURDEN OF PEANUT ALLERGY – Interview with Tia Mowry
Actress Tia Mowry, best known for her role in the sitcom Sister, Sister and her digital series Quick Fix, is now 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.
The incidence of peanut allergy has increased 21% since 2010 and impacts one in every 50 American children1, including Mowry’s seven-year-old son, Cree. Mowry says that unless you are a parent living with this situation every day, you don’t realize how difficult it is to avoid peanuts in foods, as even the slightest risk of cross-contact can lead to life-threatening reactions. Normal activities – such as going to school, playdates, eating out at restaurants, or leaving a child with a sitter for date night – present added complications and anxiety for families with a child with peanut allergy.
The Living With Peanut Allergy Awareness, Attitude and Daily Impact Survey, sponsored by DBV Technologies, collected responses from over 1000 people (including parents of children with peanut allergy, allergists, pediatricians and educators) to better understand the burden of peanut allergy among those directly and indirectly impacted by the condition. The survey also sheds light on the hidden emotional toll and impact on daily life peanut allergy has on children and their families.
Results show:
- 73% report concerns about accidental exposure2
- 60% report stress in their daily lives due to their child’s allergy2
- 48% report concerns about being perceived as overprotective by other parents2
Mowry is joining the ‘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 hopes the campaign can help create a community where people can inspire, educate and support each other.
In a recent interview for Michigan MamaNews, Mowry talked about her story, along with Dr. JacquelinePongracic,, Head of Allergy and Immunology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’sHospital of Chicago, who also explained the challenges of peanut allergies including the risk of accidental exposure and factors that contribute to the unpredictable nature of the condition.
See the entire interview here:
For more information, go to www.talkingpeanutallergy.com.
1 Gupta,Ruchi S., et al. “The Prevalence, Severity, and Distribution of Childhood Food Allergy in the United States.” 20 June 2011.
2 National survey sponsored by DBV technologies in 2017 among 500 parents, 300 Healthcare Professionals (Allergists, Physicians, Pediatrician, and PhysicianAssistants/Nurse Practitioners), and 200 educators (School Nurses &Teachers) to understand awareness, attitudes, and daily impacts related to living with peanut allergy in children ages 3-14
*Interview and photo courtesy of DBV Technologies
