The allergists also talked about creating thoughtful and balanced communication, having credible health information to share with children, and supporting a positive feedback loop between parents and children rather than one that builds anxiety. "Parents should be encouraged to transfer their knowledge to children, not all of their worries," one expert remarked.

"Psychosocial coping with food allergies can be understood and managed when clear communication is present between parents and children and between healthcare providers and patients," Gupta said. "It is a balance between lots of sound medical information and a good understanding of a child's risks and coping resources."

Coping is often impeded by misinformation about food allergies, the experts said, so it's important for parents to receive consistent messaging and counseling for the family, if necessary.

"You are taking care of the kids, but you are (also) managing the family unit, as you should be," one allergist said.

Brochures, apps, virtual groups and other educational materials can offer scientifically informed resources for parents and kids to manage food allergies. Gupta and colleagues are now collecting information in an online survey about the coping strategies and integrative medicine that parents and children have used.

"It's important for families to know that it's normal to be stressed about food allergy and feel overwhelmed, worried, sad or frustrated at times," said Linda Herbert, director of the Psychosocial Services Program for the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C.

"But it's equally important to know that they can get help from a professional," Herbert, who wasn't involved in the study, told Reuters Health by email. "The mental health and allergy communities are paying more and more attention to the needs of food allergy families, and we are working hard to increase the number of mental health professionals who are equipped to do so."

SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2utQCOm Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, online February 25, 2020.

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Allergists Offer Advice to Parents of Kids With Food Allergies - The New York Times