Food allergies saddle local boy's lifestyle

Connor Klick misses corn dogs, but he'll settle for Pop-Tarts, applesauce and fruit snacks as replacements.

It's for the best, since he was diagnosed with a rare food allergy three years ago. Now the 5-year-old has to scale back his favorites to a few specialized foods that his mother prepares.

Shopping trips are difficult, too, since doctors have identified at least 10 foods that make him ill. That list could grow, or it could disappear altogether.

This year, Connor is allergic to more foods than ever before, and that's going to be difficult as the holidays approach.

So far, he traded in his Halloween treats for candy that he can eat and his grandparents are trying to adapt their dessert recipes to his diet. Pork is one of the few meats he can eat that he enjoys.

"He's a very angry little 5-year-old right now because, of course, we took away chicken nuggets, and corn dogs are one of his favorites," said his mother, Lara Klick of Cape St. Claire.

"We don't go out to eat anymore with him," she added. "We can't trust the food that's prepared in restaurants, and at school he sits at the allergy table. The others at the table have nut allergies. His food is safe for them, but their food is not safe for him."

There were about 3 million children reported to have some kind of food allergy in 2007, the latest figures available from the American Academy of

Allergy Asthma and Immunology. Some of the most common allergens are tree nuts, peanuts and seafood. That number is on the rise, too: The National Center for Health Statistics found that the number of children with food allergies increased 18 percent from 1997 to 2007. Children with food allergies also are four times more likely to develop other allergic conditions like asthma.

In Anne Arundel County public schools, individual school administrators set their own policies to handle students with food allergies. One common technique is giving them separate tables known as "allergy zones" during lunch, but it is important for parents to let the schools know about any ailments their children may have, spokeswoman Maneka Monk said.

"Obviously, those things wouldn't be brought into a classroom, and if there's a celebration (involving food) ... parents would be made known of allergens being brought into the classroom," Monk said. "It's all about communication."

Connor's illness was first detected back in 2005. Though he had been vomiting quite a bit, Klick didn't think there was anything seriously wrong with her son until their pediatrician referred them to a gastrointestinal doctor.

It was then that he was diagnosed with eosinophilic disorder, which is characterized by elevated eosinophils in the esophagus. Eosinophils are white blood cells that are used to kill parasites and destroy cancer cells.

Too many of these cells can cause an inflammation of the esophagus and other disorders like asthma and eczema, according to the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders. Some common symptoms of eosinophilic disorder are difficulty swallowing, nausea and vomiting, abdominal or chest pain, and having trouble sleeping.

Doctors diagnosed Connor when he was 23 months old. A biopsy measured him at 50 eosinophils per microliter; anything over 15 is abnormal, Klick said. He was given a patch test - small amounts foods were taped to his back, then removed after three days - to determine the source of his allergies.

At this point, he's allergic to chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, milk, tree nuts, peanuts, pears, chocolate and bananas.

Generally, Connor can't eat hot dogs because they can contain unsafe ingredients. But the Klicks have worked out a deal with The Butcher's Block in Annapolis, which brings in 100 percent pork hot dogs just for him.

Klick also is part of a Facebook group for families dealing with eosinophilic disorder, which has become a resource for recipes and information about the illness.

To make Connor feel comfortable, the Klicks usually eat pork-based meals, since that is one of the dishes he can eat that he enjoys. On special occasions, the Klicks take Connor's older sister, Caitlin, to McDonald's.

With her own family adapted to living with Connor's illness, Klick is working on spreading information to others. She works in the health care field and has started teaching courses that aim to help caregivers understand the patients' perspective.

"Connor's story has been told to 2,000 health providers. Hopefully, it'll help health care providers understand and recognize (patients' problems)," Klick said. "Caregivers need to listen to families. My goal in life is to teach (caregivers) to listen to the family."

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