Innovative programs in healthcare are those that have identified needs in a community and have found creative solutions to meet those needs. This issue of Pediatric Annals highlights five such programs: one program that addresses the needs of children with asthma, another that helps obese children and those at risk for obesity adopt a better diet and lifestyle, a third that educates parents about injury prevention, a fourth that helps identify patients who may need mental health services, and a fifth that reaches out to underserved young people.

Despite the relatively high rate of reported physician-diagnosed food allergies in children and adults, the actual prevalence, at least as determined by the best methods currently available, is rather low. Yet in those children with proven food allergies, the effect on their physical and psychological growth can be profound. Given that the only effective means of treating a food allergy is elimination of the offending agent from the diet, careful attention must be given to assuring that the nutritional status of the patient is not compromised.

Although many families may have erroneous notions as to the nature of food allergy, many times they are on the right track. With careful history taking and judicious use of available testing modalities, the clinician can often home in on the offending agent. When in doubt, however, it is imperative that a specialist be consulted to assure a correct diagnosis is made, and more importantly, that careful nutritional education is provided to assure adequate growth.

This issue of Pediatric Annals provides four excellent presentations on the nature of food allergy in children. With careful review of these articles, the participant will be better prepared to address the issue of suspected food allergy with worried parents and not only properly secure a diagnosis, but also, and more importantly, educate the family.