Costs of kids' FA-- 25B annually.

[CMdeux]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/AllergyImmunology/Allergy/41648

Families paid $5.5 billion per year out of pocket -- an average of $931 per child per year -- on things such as copays, medications, and special diets or childcare to avoid allergens, the researchers reported online in JAMA Pediatrics.

But the biggest portion of the costs, $14.2 billion, came as lost opportunities for the caregivers, including a change or loss of a job, as the group reported at a conference last year.

Nearly 10% of us have had employment dictated by the needs of our FA children, according to that study.  I agree with Dr. Sampson that at least anecdotally, that seems to be about right.  Among MFA children and those with very severe reactions or low thresholds, that value can rise to as much as 50%, though-- in my estimation from having seen parents at PA.com, and FAS over the years.  It's a huge responsibility, and work can't ever come first.  It just can't.  Not unless the other parent (or another family member) can step in to cover it.