Considering the Role of Anxiety in Patients With Food Allergies: A Case Study

One in 13 children in the United States have diagnosed food allergies, the most severe of which result in anaphylaxis. These reactions are trauma inducing, and can invoke a generalized level of anxiety for those affected by these allergies. For children, this fear is often realized through accidental exposures to allergens, or during regular oral food challenges that result in anaphylaxis. These concerns are then reinforced by tireless caregiver surveillance. This case study examines the experience of a preschool-aged child during an oral food challenge, and the anxiety that she and her caregiver experience relative to her food allergies.