Costs for Kids' Food Allergies Estimated at Nearly $25 Billion

Childhood food allergies cost the United States about $25 billion a year in medical fees, lost work productivity and family expenses, according to a new study.

Food allergies affect about 8 percent of children in the United States. Along with significant costs to the health-care system, food allergies also cause financial burdens for families from needed expenses such as special diets and allergen-free foods, the researchers noted.

The study was published online Sept. 16 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_140710.html