Food allergies affect nearly 15 million people in the United States. One in thirteen kids under the age of eighteen lives with food allergies. That averages out to approximately two kids in every classroom across our country. Our family is grateful to belong to a school community that takes food allergies seriously, and I appreciate Mrs. Scupham asking me to share some information about food allergies.
Food allergy is often confused with food intolerance. However, they are not the same thing. Food intolerance does not involve the immune system; food allergy does. Food allergies are caused by an abnormal immune system reaction to food. The immune system mistakenly targets allergens as threats and attacks them.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction can manifest in several parts of the body:
Stomach: vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramping Lungs: shortness of breath, wheezing, repetitive coughing Throat: tight, hoarse, trouble swallowing or breathing Heart: pale, blue, faint, weak pulse, dizzy, confused Skin: hives, red itchy rash Mouth: obstructive swelling of the tongue or lips
Severe allergic reactions can lead to a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis involves a sudden drop in blood pressure, trouble breathing, dizziness and possibly death. For people with severe food allergies, treatment for a reaction requires the injection of epinephrine and seeking emergency medical attention. Epinephrine is a highly effective medication, but it must be administered promptly to be the most effective. Delays of even a few minutes can result in death. Once a reaction begins, there is no way to know how quickly it will progress or how severe it will become.
Although there is some promising research being done, there is currently neither a treatment nor a cure for food allergies. As such, people living with food allergies must strictly avoid the allergen and be prepared for an emergency. For children, this requires being surrounded by a community of caring, informed adults. Experts believe that children cannot responsibly manage their own food allergies until at least the age of 9. In addition to teachers and parents, children can help keep their friends with food allergies safe.
Here are a few simple tips we can all teach our children:
Never take food allergies lightly or tease someone with food allergies. Don’t share your food with friends who have food allergies. Wash hands after eating. Ask what your friends are allergic to and help them avoid it. If a friend who has food allergies becomes ill, get help immediately!
I feel compelled to give the disclaimer that I am neither a physician nor a scientist. Our second grade daughter, Maggie, was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy at the age of two. The information I’ve shared above is a mere sampling of the somewhat daunting facts and figures we’ve gleaned over the subsequent six years of loving our sweet girl. She, and millions of children just like her, live out normal lives with the help of a caring community like Saint Paul Catholic School.
If you’re interested in learning more about food allergies, you can access extensive resources at www.foodallergy.org (Food Allergy Research & Education) or www.niaid.nih.gov (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases).