FOOD ALLERGY INFORMATION

What is an allergy?

An allergy is an overcompensation of the body’s immune system when confronted with the protein of a food , a drug (such as penicillin), a bee sting or an airborne pollen that the body views as an invader. The body releases an overload of histamines in response to the attacker substance, which can create symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, hives, general swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, trouble breathing, quickened heart rate and finally loss of consciousness because of a drop in the person’s blood pressure. This is called anaphylaxis.

The top 8 most common food allergies are:

-Peanut
-Tree nut
-Milk (Dairy)
-Egg
-Soy
-Wheat
-Fish
-Shellfish

These 8 foods make up 90% of all food allergies.

How Serious are Food Allergic Reactions?

Some children will have mild reactions to eating a food they are allergic to. They may experience watery eyes, a runny nose or hives, and then quickly recover with a dose of Benadryl. Still others may vomit and immediately feel better. Other children will experience anaphylaxis, the most severe of allergic reactions and end up in the emergency room receiving shots of epinephrine. Tragically, some children will die.

Families who don’t deal with food allergies on a daily basis may not understand the serious nature of food allergies. How can anyone die from eating one bite of a food? Is it really necessary to read EVERY label of EVERY food that is eaten? Why can't my child bring in a PB&J sandwich for lunch? Why can’t your child eat the cake I made for the birthday party?

If a child is allergic to any food, strict precautions have to be practiced in order for that child not to experience anaphylaxis. It only takes one misstep. And even with the best precautions, products can still be mislabeled, misunderstandings can occur and EpiPens can be out of reach.

Know the Symptoms of Allergic Reactions

Symptoms of food allergies typically appear from within a few minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.

Mild allergic reactions can include:

-Hives
-Flushed skin or rash
-Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth
-Face, tongue, or lip swelling
-Vomiting and/or diarrhea
-Abdominal cramps
-Coughing or wheezing
-Dizziness and/or lightheadedness

Severe life-threatening allergic reactions:

Following ingestion of a food allergen(s), a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

-Suffocation by swelling of the throat and vocal cords
-Constricted airways in the lungs and difficulty breathing
-Severe lowering of Blood Pressure & Shock ("anaphylactic shock")
-Loss of consciousness
-Death

Each year in the U.S., it is estimated that anaphylaxis to food results in:
30,000 emergency room visits
2,000 hospitalizations
200 deaths

As a parent of a non-food allergic child, what can you do?

A letter from the school usually goes out indicating a food-allergic child is in the class, but check with the teacher, school nurse and/or school administrators before bringing in any "party" snacks. If your child has a food item with an "allergen" in it, make sure they wash their hands after eating the item. Some children are allergic not only by ingestion, but also when the food allergen touches their skin, so hand washing is important (just like cold germs). Some are also allergic to airborne food particles, so sitting at a separate table for snacktime in the classroom is also a good idea. The teacher will advise on that. In the cafeteria, sanitizing handwipes should be handed out to students eating peanut & nut products, and other food allergen items, and a "peanut/allergen free" table is available.

For more information, check out these websites:

FAAN, Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
Safe @ School Partners
Kids with Food Allergies
Allergic Child
Kid’s Health