Food Allergies in the School
It’s almost school time for my kindergartner, and I’m scheduled to bring snacks for the entire class. I don’t know what I’ll bring but I know that it won’t be anything with peanuts. There is a little girl in her class that’s allergic to peanuts- I know because I asked! I know all about peanut allergy from my 6 year old nephew. Since my sister found out that he was allergic, I have learned more from her than all of my medical school and residency training put together! This is mostly because the field of allergy and immunology is rapidly changing. We now know things that we didn’t know five to ten years ago.
A food allergy is an immune response to certain types of food. The most common food allergies in children are eggs, peanuts, milk, nuts, soy, fish, wheat, and shellfish.
The symptoms of food allergies can be varied. The most common reactions are: vomiting, diarrhea, hives, eczema, difficult breathing, and possibly a deadly reaction – anaphylactic shock. I once had a patient that handed her granddaughter a bit of an almond. The little girl immediately started sneezing!! The grandmother watched her puzzled until she realized she was allergic and showing early signs of an anaphylactic reaction. They called 911 and the child was given immediate medical attention. It happens that fast!
If you suspect your child has an allergy, talk with your pediatrician. And if your child isn’t allergic, remember that other children may be. With the increase in food allergies, chances are, you know a child who has a food allergy. Be aware of the foods you send with your child to school. Be especially careful of feeding other people’s children. I know I will. I’ll be extra careful and treat that mother’s little girl just like she was my own child.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has more information that can be accessed at their website: http://www.aaaai.org/.
Sheila Cason MD
A food allergy is an immune response to certain types of food. The most common food allergies in children are eggs, peanuts, milk, nuts, soy, fish, wheat, and shellfish.
The symptoms of food allergies can be varied. The most common reactions are: vomiting, diarrhea, hives, eczema, difficult breathing, and possibly a deadly reaction – anaphylactic shock. I once had a patient that handed her granddaughter a bit of an almond. The little girl immediately started sneezing!! The grandmother watched her puzzled until she realized she was allergic and showing early signs of an anaphylactic reaction. They called 911 and the child was given immediate medical attention. It happens that fast!
If you suspect your child has an allergy, talk with your pediatrician. And if your child isn’t allergic, remember that other children may be. With the increase in food allergies, chances are, you know a child who has a food allergy. Be aware of the foods you send with your child to school. Be especially careful of feeding other people’s children. I know I will. I’ll be extra careful and treat that mother’s little girl just like she was my own child.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has more information that can be accessed at their website: http://www.aaaai.org/.
Sheila Cason MD
Labels: health
posted by MedRounds Publications at 8:51 AM
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6 Comments:
Hello!
Just a question - what could cause sudden almond allergy in an adult?
G
xx
G- Thanks for the comment. I left this answer at your blog. But I'll repeat it here.
I can't say I know for sure. Is it a sudden systemic reaction like hives or swelling, anaphylaxis to almonds or just contact dermatitis?
I have heard some people say they think allergies and auto immune disorders are a result of a viral illness and the body reacts to this illness by creating antibodies that then ultimately react against them selves.
Hi there,
thank you so much for the comment you left on my blog.
I have replied on my blog - but thought I'd pop over too.
The almond allergy only started a few years ago - now I can't even tolerate trace amounts of almond.
The reaction is nausea, sewating, extreme abdominal pain (once so bad I was on the bathroom floor for an hour or so - I couldn't move).
I was fine with almond until this started, also I can't tolerate coffee any more either - just makes me feel extremely nauseous!
I have had a lot of strees the last few years - and have joked a few times that my ex boss has 'given me an ulcer'. But I'm sure it's just allergy - just seems odd to come on as an adult.
How is your son?
I read about his pneumonia - I wanted to comment that my eldest son had pneumonia at age 6 - and I understand what you mean about looking pale - Zach looked almost a grey colour and was so thin in the end his skin looked transparent and his ribs were really obvious. Took a while to get him over that. He's now 17 and fighting fit!
G
xx
Hi G-
Sounds like you have a true allergy to almonds. Unless it was with something else that you are reacting to.
You can test the blood to see if you have an increase in IgE level to almonds. But the gold standard to see if you have an allergy to food is what happens when you eat it. You know that it makes you sick so you have your answer. I would probably still go and have them evaluate it though because it is unusual that you would acquire this as an adult.
Thank you for the reassuring words regarding my son! I pray that one day I'll look back at how much he worried me and laugh at all the drama!
Hello Again - thank you so much for your reply. It was definitely almonds - I had my first reaction after eating some whole ones - just to be sure I tried it again, but only ate one.
It definitely pays to ask - we went to a huge dinner last night, before dessert was served I asked if either contained almonds (I've never done that before) one was sticky date pudding, the other was a chocolate cake/mousse type thing - the waitress checked with the chef - both had almonds - I would never had guessed looking at them.
They were excellent at the hotel, and made me my own dessert (didn't expect that).
Thank you again,
hope all is well with you,
G
xx
p.s. Is there anything you can have, say like anti-histamne to help with a reaction?
Hi G!
I moved this over to my recent Medicine Mondays slot since we were getting into some good stuff that other might benefit from! Just go to the home page of MommyMD.org!
Thanks so much for the great and intriguing questions. Since my own son has a bunch of food allergies, it's a topic that is near and dear to me.
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