Lack of Vigilance Potential Cause of Allergic Reactions from Food Allergies in Children

     As many as 15 million adults and children in the United States suffer from food allergies. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network explains that a food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks a food protein.  The ingestion of the offending food may trigger the sudden release of chemicals resulting in the symptoms of an allergic reaction.  Symptoms may only be mild (rashes, hives, itching and swelling) or extremely severe (trouble breathing, wheezing, loss of consciousness, etc.). The results of a recent study have shed further light that the accidental injection of avoided foods can cause dangerous and potentially life-threating allergic reactions in young children.

     The study, “Allergic Reactions to Foods in Preschool-Aged Children in a Prospective Observational Food Allergy Study,” published in the July 2012 edition of the medical journal Pediatrics (published reveals that of  512 infants studied who were either diagnosed with or at risk for having an allergy to milk or egg, there was a high rate of allergic reactions attributable to problems such as a lack of vigilance in checking ingredients and supervising children, and errors in reading ingredient labels and in preparing foods safely, For example, the non-accidental exposures of milk, egg, and peanuts accounted for 11% of all reactions; and almost half of the allergic reactions were due to food not given by parents, emphasizing the need to provide education to all caretakers, including other relatives and teachers. In addition, only 30 percent of reactions with severe symptoms were treated with epinephrine, and the researchers conclude that improved education on what symptoms warrant treatment with epinephrine, reassurance for caretakers about the safety of administering epinephrine, and teaching its proper use are necessary to prevent these potentially life-threatening reactions in children.

So, what can you do?

●Embrace your multiple roles as parent, advocate and educator. Because food allergies are so misunderstood by the general public, part of your job  will entails educating [others] about what a food allergy is and is not, and the seriousness of food allergies and allergic reactions in your child(ren).

●Keep in mind that while you as well as others around you, understand your child’s food allergies, you will have to engage others attention with educational tools, preventative measures and medications to get them to help you.

●Here’s a tip to also keep in mind─ when you have to speak to people about accommodating your child’s allergies, keep in mind that if you describe their allergy and what needs to be done really simply, you will succeed!