Tag Archives: Allergy

Weekend Pick: “What Does an Allergy Attack Look Like?”

Posted on by
Reply

Weekend Pick:

Allergy

“What Does an Allergic Reaction Look Like?”

Read and Learn

 

Allergy Awareness

It seems that every month marks a cause and May is no different. It is dedicated as  Allergy Awareness Month. At our house we are acutely aware of food allergies because our granddaughter is peanut and tree nut allergic. She also has asthma. We found this out before she was two years old and it was all new to us.

My niece has a teenage son who has many food allergies so I looked to her first. What I found out was how difficult it was to impress upon other adults the supreme seriousness of anaphylactic reactions to foods like nuts, eggs, milk. In minutes a child can be dead from ingesting or even touching an allergen.

What I have found over the years is that stories from other parents of kids who have had anaphylactic reactions sometimes have an effect on people that statistics, and medical information just does not. Parents sharing their anguish as they recount watching their child experience cardiac arrest after eating or touching a peanut makes people listen.

Just as Jimmy Kimmel’s tearful story about his newborn son’s cardiac anomaly and emergency heart surgery affected millions of viewers, we need more stories from food allergy parents to help with awareness of this disability.

This week I read Julia Ryan’s story about her son Tagg. It left me with chills! She mentions Oakley Debbs in her story. I too think of Oakley, who died this past Thanksgiving and whose parents have founded RedSneakers.org in his memory.

Julia Ryan and Merrill Debbs have different stories but both women have shared theirs in order to prevent others from suffering as they have.

Please support Food Allergy Awareness in any way you can .

You may save a life!

 

“Make sure you’re sharing from your scars, not your open wounds.” I need to talk about the two times in less than two weeks my son was transferred by ambulance-a Critical Care Transfer Unit-from one emergency room to second larger hospital and admitted to the ICU.  I know this could have been written better but sometimes done is better than none.

Source: Julia Ryan: What does an allergy attack look like.

Kids and Allergies-“Allergy friendly party: How to host a kids party – latimes.com”

Posted on by
2

NOTEWORTHY WEDNESDAY!

Although only a small percentage of children in the U.S. have reported food allergies it can be deadly for that small number.

It is important for those of us who are not affected by this problem to remain empathic for those that do ….

…..it can mean life or death within minutes of exposure.

With that being said, if your child has friends with allergies or your child, herself, has allergies it means that childhood parties and holiday celebrations at school can be problematic.

There are many ways to host an allergy free event…it may not be all that easy but well worth the effort.

I would urge any parent or grandparent to become familiar with common food allergies and the signs of an allergic reaction so that they can respond appropriately if necessary.

When in doubt if it is an allergic reaction….call 911…better to be safe than sorry!

So…I came across this information in the LA Times which might be helpful.

The latest research shows that 8 percent of children in the United States have food allergies, which means that even if your kid can eat her weight in PB&J or egg salad, she’ll probably have a friend who can’t.

Here are some tips from Beasley on how to host an allergy-friendly kids party:

1. On party invitations, mention upfront if there will be a food-centric theme, such as decorating your own pizza or assembling gingerbread houses.

2. If the parent of a food-allergic child contacts you before the party, offer to put out a “safe” dish (prepared by the parent and dropped off with the child) amid buffet items.

3. Choose dishware that comes in a variety of colors instead of a uniform print. This will help an allergic child avoid accidentally using someone else’s tainted cup or fork.

4. If traditional cake is being served, don’t make a big production out of cutting and handing a slice to each guest. If ice cream is being served, have a nondairy fruit sorbet on hand that can be substituted without drawing attention to the milk-allergic child.

5. If crafts will be a focal point, beware of common allergens that might be ingredients in art supplies, such as glue (milk), modeling clay (wheat) and tempera paints (egg).

6. Giving out goody bags? Be sure any food you include is thoroughly wrapped. Crumbs from a cookie or chocolate’s oils can contaminate the toys bundled beside it. Or leave out food altogether.

Andrea Pyros writes for the coupon site RetailMeNot.com.

Distributed by MCT Information Services

via Allergy friendly party: How to host a kids party – latimes.com.

Peanut Allergy continued…

Posted on by
3

NOTEWORTHY WEDNESDAY!

Peanut allergy is on the rise…it can cause a severe reaction which is life threatening.

Unexpected sources of peanuts:

  • sauces, chili sauce, hot sauce, pesto, gravy, mole sauce, and salad dressing
  • sweets like puddings, cookies, and hot chocolate
  • egg rolls
  • potato pancakes
  • pet foods (reactions may occur after being licked by a pet that has consumed peanut)
  • specialty pizzas
  • Asian and Mexican dishes
  • Some vegetarian food products, especially those advertised as mean substitutes
  • foods that contain extruded, cold pressed peanut oil, which may contain peanut protein
  • glazes and marinades
  • salads and salad dressings
  • barbecue sauce
  • breading for chicken
  • pancakes
  • meat-free burgers
  • pasta
  • honey
  • fish dishes
  • pie crust
  • mortadella (may contain pistachios)

Things to keep in mind:

  • Alternative nut butters may be processed on equipment shared with peanuts…contact manufacturer about these products.
  • Discuss with allergist whether to avoid tree nuts…cross contamination with peanuts is always a risk.
  • Ice cream served in ice cream parlors should be avoided due to cross contamination…always tell the manager that you have a nut allergy.
  • Sometimes foods that contain other nuts also contain peanuts.
  • Peanuts go by other names, such as beer nuts, ground nuts or monkey nuts.
  • Ask your doctor if you should avoid peanut oils.
  • Peanuts can be found in many foods and candies, especially chocolate. Check all labels carefully and contact the manufacturer with your questions.
  • Peanuts can cause severe allergic reactions. If prescribed, carry epinephrine at all times- lean more about anaphylaxis.

Some children actually can outgrow a peanut allergy…check with your doctor.

via: DuPage Medical Group- Asthma and Allergy Center, 1801 South Highland Avenue, Lombard, IL 60148 – 630 545 7833 

links: http://www.foodallergy.org/

Related posts:http://parentingintheloop.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/kids-and-allergies/

Kids and Allergies…

Posted on by
7

NOTEWORTY WEDNESDAY!

KIDS AND ALLERGIES

Allergies are serious and especially so in children.

The vast majority of allergic reactions to foods affect the skin in one way or another. The severity of symptoms can change quickly and there is always potential for a severe, possibly life-threatening reaction.

This week I had a crash course in allergies and children. The fact that ingesting a food such as a peanut could be life threatening is truly  a scary situation.

There are ways to minimize the potential risk and prevent accidental exposure to the foods that cause an allergic reaction.

Here are some of the family’s responsibilities when they have a child with a food allergy:

  • Notify the school of the child’s allergies
  • Work with the school team to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs throughout the school including in the classroom, in the cafeteria, in after-care programs during school sponsored activities and on the school bus as well as a Food Allergy Action Plan.
  • Provide written medical documentation, instructions, ad medications as directed by a physician using the Food Allergy Action Plan as a guide. Include a photo of the child on written form.
  • Provide properly labeled medications and replace medications after use or upon expiration.
  • Educate the child in the self-management of their food allergy including:
  1. safe and unsafe foods
  2. strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods
  3. symptoms of allergic reaction
  4. how and when to tell an adult they may be having an allergy-related problem
  5. how to read food labels (age appropriate)

– Review policies/procedures with the school staff, the child’s physician, and the child (if age appropriate) after a reaction has occurred.

– Provide emergency contact information.

excerpts: from DuPage Medical Group – Asthma & Allergy Center

NEXT:  School’s responsibility

Related Posts: http://parentingintheloop.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/food-allergies-new-guidelines/