Families with food allergic individuals make significant lifestyle alterations when it comes to vacation planning, according to a study presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

Stephanie A. Leonard, MD, and colleagues looked at how having a food allergic family member impacts the vacation planning process using a survey that was filled out by 410 participants.

The survey results showed that food allergies limit where and how families with food allergic members vacation. Among those who vacation, 68% limit the type of destination with 90% vacationing solely in the U.S. and only 0.3% traveling to a remote location.

Thirty-six percent of respondents reported limiting the type of transportation they take for vacations with 80% avoiding ships and 65% avoiding planes. Typical travel preparations included obtaining extra epinephrine injectors (67%), packing allergen-free food (94%), requesting special airplane accommodations (53%) and researching where the closest hospital is located (48%).

Japan, India, China, Africa and beach resorts in foreign countries were among the destinations that survey responders were least likely to visit.

Once at their destination, 51% eat most of their meals in their own room and 86% arrange for special meals if the destination is equipped to make those accommodations.

Overall, medical care was found to be the most common limit on choice of vacation destination, which prompts a call for resorts to have better access to medical care and the option to ask for special arrangements for those with food allergies.

The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,500 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries.