As a mother and registered nurse, I was thrilled to see The Sun highlight recently the seriousness of food allergies, particularly among children ("Food allergies common, growing, study says," Oct. 19). Food allergies are very real and, as the article states, among the most common chronic diseases in America. Over 12 million Americans — and 1 in every 25 children — suffer from allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy, exposure to which can lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis within seconds.

Despite the fact that they are increasingly more common, food allergy research is severely underfunded. Currently the federal government, mostly through the National Institutes of Health, spends only about $26 million a year on food allergy research. This is far less than other diseases that affect far fewer Americans.

Every 15 minutes a child is rushed to the emergency room because of an allergic reaction to food. This is a terrifying statistic. We simply must do better. We need more study and more education to focus on this very real and serious health issue.

Mary Pat Doyle, Catonsville