FOOD ALLERGIES AND FOOD INTOLERANCES

1
FOOD ALLERGIES AND FOOD INTOLERANCES

• WHAT DO WE DO?

2
WHAT IS A FOOD ALLERGY?

• AN ABNORMAL RESPONSE TO A FOOD TRIGGERED BY THE
  BODYS IMMUNE SYSTEM.
• IN OTHER WORDS THE BODY BELIEVES THAT A FOOD
  THAT IS HARMLESS IS HARMFUL SO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
  BEGINS TO FIGHT BACK

3
COMMON FOOD ALLERGIES

• SHELL FISH
• PEANUTS
• TREE NUTS
• FISH
• EGGS
• MILK

4
RISK FACTORS (WHO GETS FOOD ALLERGIES)

• FAMILY HISTORY
• A PAST FOOD ALLERGY
• OTHER ALLERGIES
• AGE (MORE COMMON IN CHILDREN BUT CAN DEVELOP IN
  ADULTS)

5
SYMPTOMS

• TINGLING IN THE MOUTH
• HIVES, ITCHING OR ECZEMA
• SWELLING OF THE LIPS, FACE, THROAT, OR OTHER
  PARTS OF THE BODY
• WHEEZING, NASAL CONGESTION,OR TROUBLE BREATHING
• DIZZINESS, LIGHTHEADEDNESS, OR FAINTING

6
WARNING!!!

• FOR SOME PEOPLE, AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO A
  PARTICULAR FOOD CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE BUT NOT
  SEVERE. TO OTHERS AN ALLERGIC REACTION CAN BE
  DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING.
• SYMPTOMS USUALLY DEVELOP WITHIN A FEW MINUTES TO
  AN HOUR AFTER EATING THE OFFENDING FOOD.

7
!!!ANAPHYLAXIS!!!

• SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION THAT CAN BE LIFE
  THREATENING.
• SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE
• SWOLLEN THROAT
• CONSTRICTION OR TIGHTENING OF AIRWAYS
• DIFFICULTY BREATHING
• RAPID PULSE
• DIZZINESS, LIGHTHEADEDNESS,LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
• EMERGENCY TREATMENT IS NEEDED FOR ANAPHYLAXIS

8
FOOD INTOLERANCES

• USUALLY THERE IS SOMETHING LACKING IN THE BODYS
  DIGESTIVE PROCESS THAT ALLOWS PROPER DIGESTION OF
  A FOOD.
• COMMON FOOD INTOLERANCES ARE
• MILK (LACTOSE INTOLERANCE)CELIAC (SENSITIVITY TO
  GLUTEN, A PROTEIN FRACTION FOUND IN WHEAT AND
  SOME OTHER GRAINS

9
SYMPTOMS OF FOOD INTOLERANCES

• CRAMPING
• NAUSEA
• VOMITING
• DIARREAH

10
HOW ARE FOOD ALLERGIES AND FOOD INTOLERANCES
TREATED

• AVOID THE OFFENDING FOOD OR FOODS

11
WHAT ARE WE TO DO

• When written documentation is received from A
  RECOGNIZED MEDICAL AUTHORITY stating a child has
  a food allergy or food intolerance WE MUST COMPLY.

12
ACCEPTABLE NOTICE

• September 1, 2009
• Joe Smith is allergic to peanuts. All peanuts
  and peanut products are to be eliminated form his
  diet.
• John Smith, MD

13
UNACCEPTABLE NOTICE

• My son, Joe Smith is not to drink milk at school.
  Thank you.
• Mary Smith

14
WHO IS CONSIDERED A LICENSED MEDICAL AUTHORITY
IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS?

• Licensed Physician (MD)
• Nurse practitioner (RNP)
• Osteopath (OD)
• Chiropractor

15
NOTICES THAT ARENT ACCEPTABLE

• TELEPHONE CALLS FROM ANYONE
• WRITTEN NOTICES FROM PARENTS OR GUARDIANS
• WRITTEN NOTICES FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE
• REMEMBER THAT SOME CONDITIONS CAN BE LIFE
  THREATENING AND WE NEED THE FACTS TO BE STRAIGHT

16
THINK ABOUT IT