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By Melissa Tennen, HealthAtoZ writer
Part two of a two-part series.
More and more children have severe food allergies. But no one knows just how many more there are.
Since more children have allergies, there are more kids at risk for severe allergic reactions.
Peanut and tree nut allergies affect about 3 million Americans. About 150 to 200 people in the United States die each year from food-related anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reaction.
The numbers could be higher than that. Hospitals may not be report all allergic reactions they treat or some people may not come to the emergency room or see a doctor when an attack happens.
Eight foods account for 90 percent of severe allergies - peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.), fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, soy and wheat. The other cases include latex, insect venom and reactions to medications. Peanuts are the leading cause of allergic reactions.
About 8 percent of children 6 years and younger have food intolerances. Of this group, between 2 percent and 4 percent may have allergic reactions to food. An estimated 1 percent to 2 percent of adults are sensitive to food or food additives. All allergies, whether they are caused by grasses or household dust, affect as many as 40 to 50 million people in the United States.
Americans live in better-insulated homes and use more antibiotic soaps and household cleaners. This can create environments where immune systems are overly sensitive to harmless substances.
The immune system has two sides that keep a balance with each other. One side fights bacteria and the other side fights parasites. But with better medicine and more technology, the part of the immune system that looks for bacteria has little to do, and the side that fights parasites becomes more active. With no parasites to fight, this part of the immune system can make the allergic attack on allergens from foods, pollens, animal danders and other normally harmless substances.
Or maybe children are being exposed to some foods too soon in life when their immune systems are still developing.
If parents suspect a food allergy, they should take their child to a doctor as soon as possible. An allergist can tell the parent if the food allergy exists, and teach the parents and children about how to avoid the food and what to do in an emergency. That doctor might also prescribe the life-saving medications, which should be at hand in schools.
What Are Food Allergies?
People with food allergies have immune systems that react to otherwise harmless substances in the foods we eat. For people with allergies these substances are called allergens. Those with allergies have antibodies to the allergens in their blood and throughout their body. When someone eats a food they're allergic to, the food allergens set off activity in antibodies, which signal the body to release chemicals. Then the victim may have trouble breathing and may lose consciousness.
The most common form of an allergic immune system reaction happens when the body creates IgE antibodies to the food. When these antibodies react with the food, histamine and other chemicals cause hives, asthma or other symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Food allergy and food intolerance is not the same thing. Food intolerance is a metabolic disorder and doesn't involve the immune system. Lactose intolerance is an example of food intolerance where an enzyme is needed so the body can digest milk sugar. When the person eats milk products, symptoms such as gas, bloating and abdominal pain may occur.
Some children outgrow allergies to milk, soy and eggs. However, tree nut, peanut and seafood allergies are more likely to persist into adulthood.
FAAN guidelines on managing food allergies in children
Family's Responsibility
- Tell the school about the child's allergies.
- Work with the school to form a plan that meets the child's needs throughout the building. This includes the classroom, the cafeteria, after-care programs, during school-sponsored activities, and on the school bus. There should also be a Food Allergy Action Plan in place.
- Provide written medical documentation, instructions and medications as directed by a doctor, using the Food Allergy Action Plan as a guide. Include a photo of the child on the written form.
- Provide properly labeled medications and replace medications after use or when they expire.
- Teach the child how to self-manage their food allergy including:
- safe and unsafe foods
- ways to avoid exposure to unsafe foods
- symptoms of allergic reactions
- how and when to tell an adult they may be having an allergy-related problem
- how to read food labels (age appropriate)
- Review policies and procedures with the school staff and nurse, the child's doctor and the child (if old enough) after a reaction has happened.
- Provide emergency contact information.
- Make sure the school includes children with food allergies in school activities to avoid alienating the child. Students should not be excluded from school activities solely based on their food allergy.
- Ask the school staff supporting your child to practice the emergency plan.
- Make sure there is always someone available who knows how to do the shot.
- Require that all field trips include someone who can give the shot.
Student's Responsibility
- Don't trade food with others.
- Don't eat anything with unknown ingredients or known to contain any allergen.
- Be proactive in the care and management of their food allergies and reactions based on their developmental level.
- The child should notify an adult immediately if they eat something they think may contain the food to which they are allergic.
Also, it is strongly recommended that anyone who is susceptible to possibly anaphylactic reactions to foods (or to any other allergen, or to bee stings) wear a bracelet like those available from MedicAlert.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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