Food allergy is the new epidemic of the 21st century, and the rise in incidence among kids is alarming. This information-packed book was written by a food allergy mom, a psychologist, and a physician expert in the field of food allergies. It is a comprehensive source of practical knowledge for parents, teachers, caregivers, and others who are concerned about food allergies and want to know how best to treat them. The chapters clarify which food allergy treatments are grounded in modern medicine, and provide practical information on the treatment methods that are currently available. It is a balanced, sympathetic, highly informative, and non-judgmental guide to treatment options for individuals suffering from food allergies, written in a way that cuts through the jargon and uses language that everyone can understand.

Allergy is the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. More than fifty million Americans suffer from allergies, and they spend an estimated $18 billion coping with them. Yet despite advances in biomedicine and enormous investment in research over the past fifty years, the burden of allergic disease continues to grow. Why have we failed to reverse this trend? Breathing Space offers an intimate portrait of how allergic disease has shaped American culture, landscape, and life. Drawing on environmental, medical, and cultural history and the life stories of people, plants, and insects, Mitman traces how America’s changing environment from the late 1800s to the present day has led to the epidemic growth of allergic disease. We have seen a never-ending stream of solutions to combat allergies, from hay fever resorts, herbicides, and air-conditioned homes to numerous potions and pills. But, as Mitman shows, despite the quest for a magic bullet, none of the attempted solutions has succeeded. Until we address how our changing environment—physical, biological, social, and economic—has helped to create America’s allergic landscape, that hoped-for success will continue to elude us.