14 to 25 is the riskiest time of life for people with food allergy. The West Australian reports.

Teen allergy risk

The West Australian, 19 April 201

Kate Bellchambers is just 12 years old but already her mother is noticing a change in how she handles the fact she has life-threatening anaphylaxis.

As she enters what is recognised as the riskiest time of life for people with serious food allergies – the years between 14 and 25 – she’s starting to push for more independence and spending more time away from the watchful eye of her parents.

While alcohol and boys are not yet on Kate’s horizon, her mother is anticipating they will become issues within the next few years.

Now in high school, already she is going on more camps, socialising more, mixing with a wider group of peers and moving between multiple classrooms rather than staying under the care of one teacher.

It’s a challenging time for mother Jodie Bellchambers as she prepares to step back and allow her daughter to independently manage the risks she faces as a result of her severe peanut allergy.

“The challenge as they get older is more to ensure that they start to take responsibility,” Mrs Bellchambers says. “It’s about letting go and building their confidence and their ability to speak up.”

Experts say that for self-conscious teens, one of the biggest challenges is having the confidence to say no or step out of situations which pose a risk.

Read the full article here.