Bullies target children with food allergy

Anecdotal reports suggest children and adolescents are being bullied because of their food allergy. A group led by Dr Scott Sicherer has conducted research to characterise this problem so that it can be given more attention by those charged with managing a young person’s food allergy.

The research was carried out using questionnaires that were completed by 353 food-allergic teens and adults and by parents of food-allergic children. The majority (26%) of participants were younger than 4 years old, with a further 55% aged between 4 and 11 years. Four percent of participants were older than 25 years.

Almost one quarter (24%) of all participants reported being bullied, teased or harassed because of food allergy. Of those who were bullied, teased, or harassed, 86% reported multiple episodes, and almost 80% attributed the acts solely to food allergy. The majority of events were of a physical nature such as being touched by an allergen and having an allergen thrown or waved at them. Several reports indicated intentional contamination of the person’s food with an allergen.

In characterising these episodes, the study found the schoolyard was the primary setting (82%), with classmates perpetrating 80% of the acts. More than 20% of those who were bullied, teased, or harassed reported teachers or school staff as perpetrators.

Reference:Leiberman et al. 2010. Annals of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. Vol 105(4) pp. 282-286.