A newly approved medicine for food allergies, Xolair, has been proven to reduce the risk of deadly allergies, hives and asthma. Xolair blocks an antibody from binding to its receptors, but avoiding allergens is still necessary even if you are taking Xolair.
I spoke with peers who can be impacted by this new study, such as seventh graders Patrick Sainsbury and Owen Luke and eighth grader Oliver Shutt. These boys all have severe peanut allergies that could be life-threatening.
“Well, I’ve learned to live my life with the allergy. But to be honest, now I don’t feel much of an impact. It’s just something I live with. I mean, I proceed with more caution when it comes to eating food, but I think I manage it pretty well,” Sainsbury said.
Shutt takes precautions before eating things.
“I read ingredients and try not to take risks,” Shutt said.
Luke had insightful comments about how decreasing the allergy risk would impact him. “I wouldn’t have to ask as much,” Luke said.
I had a new understanding talking to Sainsbury about lowering the risk rate.
“Well, decreasing the impact would give more, make me feel safer eating foods because I’d have a lower risk of something bad happening to me,” Sainsbury said.
Shutt also shared some insightful comments about how he would be open to new medicine.
“If it is accessible and didn’t have any side effects,” Shutt said.
These gentlemen shared how they discovered these allergies.
“I discovered my allergy by getting hives,’”Luke said.
Words from Sainsbury were quite enlightening too.
“Probably when I was a young infant.”
Shutt shared with me how he had his first encounter.
“I didn’t have many [signs of his allergy] before I discovered it,” Shutt said.