Allergy briefs.

Each year The American Academy of Pediatrics publishes a synopsis of important research in the field of pediatric allergy and immunology. Although most of the research is esoteric, there are always a few articles of interest to primary care doctors as well as to parents.

The first article was originally published in The New England Journal of Medicine. It describes the characteristics of 13 fatal and near-fatal allergic reactions to food in children.

* The foods involved were

peanut, eggs, milk and nuts.

* The children did not know

that the offending agent was in

the food being eaten.

* Of the six fatal …