We all know a person with a severe food allergy or have one ourselves. The prevalence of these potentially life threatening conditions is increasing and medical scientists can’t seem to figure out why. In a regional study of children under 5, Australia reported 1 in 10 children has a diagnosed food allergy. (U.S. is a not-so-distant 6th with 1 in 13.)
While there are cases where children have outgrown their sensitivity to particular reactions, there is no cure for food allergies. Identifying the root cause and strictly avoiding the allergen is the only way to prevent reactions. Early detection and good decision-making can avoid minor reactions such as a rash or itchiness, as well as serious health consequences such as anaphylaxis.
Infographic
Food Allergies Infographic
Get Involved
Researchers are working to identify why this trend is becoming so widespread. Staying informed is currently our best line of defense and this week is Food Allergy Awareness Week (May 11 – 17). Teal is the official color of this awareness campaign so look for the hash tag #TealTakeover. You can find more information and tools at foodallergy.org
Posted By: Mike Martins
About the Author:
As Managing Director of Innovation and Insights for Syneos Health Communications, Leigh is responsible for building and scaling a global team of healthcare experts who together help life science leaders better understand the complex lives, influences and expectations of their customers. Specifically, they uncover actionable insights that fuel empathy and creativity; lead co-creation events that let marketers learn from peers, trends, and new possibilities; and help clients identify the most valuable and useful new customer experiences to create.
Leigh has worked with Fortune 1000 companies to craft their digital, mobile, social and CRM strategies for nearly 20 years.She’s worked for category-leading agencies in retail, public affairs, B2B technology, and higher education. Prior to moving to Syneos Health Communications, she held several leadership roles at our largest agency, GSW. There, she founded an innovation practice fueled by the zeitgeist and spearheaded digital and innovation thinking across the business.
Leigh has taken a special interest in complex healthcare products that can change lives in meaningful ways. She was recently a strategic lead on the 3rd largest launch in pharmaceutical history: Tecfidera. Before that she had keys roles with Eli Lilly Oncology, Abbott Nutrition, Amgen Cardiovascular, and Eli Lilly Diabetes.
A critical part of Leigh’s work is trends and new ideas. Every year, she convenes a group of trend watchers from across our global network to identify the shifts most critical to healthcare marketers. This year, she led over 250 experts to experts to focus on the most important changes in the commercial, consumer, marketing, digital and healthcare landscapes. (See reports at trends.health)
Leigh is a sought-after writer and speaker. Recognized as one of the most inspiring people in the pharmaceutical industry by PharmaVoice and Top 10 Innovation Catalysts of 2017 by MM&M, Leigh also was recognized as a Rising Star by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) for her overt passion, industry thought leadership and significant contributions in new business, strategy and mentoring.
