According to a new study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, one in four kids is bullied about their allergies. The incident mentioned earlier occurred two years ago when Joshua Hickson smeared peanut butter on the forehead of a student that he knew had a serious peanut allergy. District court Judge Nancy Harmon asked Hickson “What were you thinking when you did this?” before sentencing the boy to four days in jail on the assault charge.

There is so much ammunition for kids to use against each other these days, in class or on the school bus, but this teen decided to take information he overheard in the lunch room and immediate use it to humiliate another student. Luckily, the student did not have a allergic reaction in this case, although he had experienced severe ones in the past.

This is one more instance that should prove to be a lesson for kids, parents, educators and transporters alike: be careful of the information you give about yourself or shared with others about a student's personal information. This goes for social networking also. Students can use what you say online against you, or they can take private photos you post and re-post them to others. You never know what the consequences can be until you experience them.