When Eliza Rader was 17 months old, she tasted peanut butter for the first time.
When
Eliza
Rader
was
17
months
old
,
she
tasted
peanut
butter
for
the
first
time
.
Immediately afterward, her tongue became bigger and she had trouble in breathing.
Immediately
afterward
,
her
tongue
became
bigger
and
she
had
trouble
in
breathing
.
Her mother rushed her to a doctor.
Her
mother
rushed
her
to
a
doctor
.
Later, tests proved Eliza had a severe peanut allergy.
Later
,
tests
proved
Eliza
had
a
severe
peanut
allergy
.
Now, Eliza is a 12-year-old seventh grader.
Now
,
Eliza
is
a
12-year-old
seventh
grader
.
She carries an injector that gives an emergency dose of medicine all the lime.
She
carries
an
injector
that
gives
an
emergency
dose
of
medicine
all
the
lime
.
She also visits classrooms at her old elementary school.
She
also
visits
classrooms
at
her
old
elementary
school
.
Last week, she visited Mrs. Dwyer's second-grade class at West Orchard Elementary in New York.
Last
week
,
she
visited
Mrs.
Dwyer
's
second-grade
class
at
West
Orchard
Elementary
in
New
York
.
"When I was younger, I was one of the few kids that had these allergies, so I felt lonely," Eliza says.
``
When
I
was
younger
,
I
was
one
of
the
few
kids
that
had
these
allergies
,
so
I
felt
lonely
,
''
Eliza
says
.
"I want to make kids feel more comfortable and safe."
``
I
want
to
make
kids
feel
more
comfortable
and
safe
.
''
Now about 3 million American kids suffer from food allergies, and the number seems to be growing quickly.
Now
about
3
million
American
kids
suffer
from
food
allergies
,
and
the
number
seems
to
be
growing
quickly
.
Why are some children allergic to some food?
Why
are
some
children
allergic
to
some
food
?
It's a mistake of the body's immune system.
It
's
a
mistake
of
the
body
's
immune
system
.
The immune system's role is to protect the body from infections and other invaders.
The
immune
system
's
role
is
to
protect
the
body
from
infections
and
other
invaders
.
During an allelic reaction, the immune system identifies a food as something dangerous and releases chemicals, which cause the signs of an allergic reaction.
During
an
allelic
reaction
,
the
immune
system
identifies
a
food
as
something
dangerous
and
releases
chemicals
,
which
cause
the
signs
of
an
allergic
reaction
.
Nobody is sure why the number of kids with food allergies is increasing, hut it's believed that changes in what we eat are contributing factors.
Nobody
is
sure
why
the
number
of
kids
with
food
allergies
is
increasing
,
hut
it
's
believed
that
changes
in
what
we
eat
are
contributing
factors
.
In today's antibacterial world, there're fewer viruses for our immune systems to fight, so immune systems are attacking normally harmless food instead.
In
today
's
antibacterial
world
,
there
're
fewer
viruses
for
our
immune
systems
to
fight
,
so
immune
systems
are
attacking
normally
harmless
food
instead
.
Now schools and kids across the country are taking an aggressive approach to food allergies.
Now
schools
and
kids
across
the
country
are
taking
an
aggressive
approach
to
food
allergies
.
School staff numbers are trained to use injectors arid look tot the signs of allergic reactions.
School
staff
numbers
are
trained
to
use
injectors
arid
look
tot
the
signs
of
allergic
reactions
.
Food-allergic kids keep emergency plans anti medication in the nurse's office.
Food-allergic
kids
keep
emergency
plans
anti
medication
in
the
nurse
's
office
.
"Having a food allergy is just part of what makes you who you are, like if you have glasses," says Eliza.
``
Having
a
food
allergy
is
just
part
of
what
makes
you
who
you
are
,
like
if
you
have
glasses
,
''
says
Eliza
.
"It doesn't make you different in a bad way.
``
It
does
n't
make
you
different
in
a
bad
way
.
It just makes you special."
It
just
makes
you
special.
''
When Eliza Rader was 17 months old, she tasted peanut butter for the first time. Immediately afterward, her tongue became bigger and she had trouble in breathing. Her mother rushed her to a doctor. Later, tests proved Eliza had a severe peanut allergy.  Now, Eliza is a 12-year-old seventh grader. She carries an injector that gives an emergency dose of medicine all the lime. She also visits classrooms at her old elementary school. Last week, she visited Mrs. Dwyer's second-grade class at West Orchard Elementary in New York. "When I was younger, I was one of the few kids that had these allergies, so I felt lonely," Eliza says. "I want to make kids feel more comfortable and safe."  Now about 3 million American kids suffer from food allergies, and the number seems to be growing quickly. Why are some children allergic to some food? It's a mistake of the body's immune system. The immune system's role is to protect the body from infections and other invaders. During an allelic reaction, the immune system identifies a food as something dangerous and releases chemicals, which cause the signs of an allergic reaction.  Nobody is sure why the number of kids with food allergies is increasing, hut it's believed that changes in what we eat are contributing factors. In today's antibacterial world, there're fewer viruses for our immune systems to fight, so immune systems are attacking normally harmless food instead.  Now schools and kids across the country are taking an aggressive approach to food allergies. School staff numbers are trained to use injectors arid look tot the signs of allergic reactions. Food-allergic kids keep emergency plans anti medication in the nurse's office.  "Having a food allergy is just part of what makes you who you are, like if you have glasses," says Eliza. "It doesn't make you different in a bad way. It just makes you special."