Title: Food Allergy Information Guide | Best Allergy Sites (1)
1Food Allergy Information Guide Best Allergy Sites
- Best Allergy Sites is to bring allergy and
intolerance sufferers up to date information and
support
2Why Choose us?
- Best Allergy Sites is the webs first and
largest informational guide of environmental
allergy, food allergy and intolerance web sites
and blogs. - Business owners, medical professionals,
educators, and writers from all over the world
are manufacturing products, doing research and
publishing articles and stories to help
individuals manage their allergies and
intolerance. Best Allergy Sites is an attempt to
gather all of those resources in one place. - Our Mission
- The mission behind Best Allergy Sites is to
bring allergy and intolerance sufferers up to
date information and support. We serve as a food
allergy guide and allergy support community. - We encourage you to browse our site and see all
that Best Allergy Sites has to offer. - www.bestallergysites.com
3Allergy Basics
- Newly Diagnosed
- Allergy Information
- Food Allergy
- Peanut Allergy
- Tree Nut Allergy
- Soy Allergy
- Egg Allergy
- Wheat Allergy
- Dairy Allergy
- Fish Allergy
- www.bestallergysites.com
4What is a Food Allergy?
A food allergy is defined as an immune system
response. If you have a food allergy, your bodys
immune system mistakenly recognizes a food
protein, or allergen, as an invader and produces
antibodies to fight it in an attempt to "protect"
the body. A chemical called histamine is then
released into the bloodstream and acts on the
eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or
gastrointestinal tract and causes symptoms of the
allergic reaction. www.bestallergysites.com
5Intolerance vs. Allergy
- Intolerance
- Reaction to the chemicals in food
- No immune system response
- No serious (life-threatening) side-effects
- Bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort
- Public impression
- Parental interaction
- www.bestallergysites.com
6Food Allergy Facts What the experts say
- Doubling of food allergy over the past 10 years,
particularly peanut allergy. - Latest statistics show continual increase with
peanut allergy as the leading cause -
- 12 million Americans affected (4)
- ½ are peanut and/or tree nut
- 3 million school aged children (8)
- Onset at any age
-
www.bestallergysites.com
7Food Allergy Facts What the experts say
- Food allergy is the leading cause of serious
allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) outside the
hospital setting. - over 30,000 ER visits per year
- 175 deaths annually
- reactions caused most often outside the home and
by products believed to be safe - Asthma increases risk of fatal reaction
- Adolescents and young adults are at the highest
risk - www.bestallergysites.com
8Food Allergy Facts What the experts say
- Sensitivity to the allergen can vary
- For some, a speck of allergen can have the same
effect as eating a large quantity - For some, skin contact with the allergen is
enough to cause a reaction - For some, inhalation of the allergen can cause
discomfort - Sensitivity is truly unknown
- Affected systems can vary between individuals AND
reactions - www.bestallergysites.com
9Food Allergy Facts What the experts say
- Eight foods account for 90 of all reactions
10Peanut Allergy Specific
- 1/250 of a peanut is enough to trigger a reaction
(cutting a peanut in half 125 times!) - Severe allergies are typically life-long
- High cross-reactivity to tree nuts (almonds,
walnuts, etc.) - www.bestallergysites.com
11Peanut Allergy Specific
- Peanut allergies tend to cause the most severe
reactions - Peanut or tree nut allergies and asthma appear to
increase the risk for fatal reactions - A study (2001) of 32 cases of fatal food-allergy
induced anaphylaxis showed gt90 had peanut and
tree nut allergies, most had asthma and emergency
medication (epinephrine) was not given or not
given soon enough. - A more recent study (2007) also showed a large
majority of fatalities due to peanuts/tree nuts
and asthma. - Estimated that at least ½ of deaths are result of
peanut/tree nut - www.bestallergysites.com
12Allergic Reactions - facts
- Severity of reaction can vary from mild to
serious and potentially fatal - Previous reactions DO NOT indicate future
reactions - An unpredictable physiological change occurs
after each exposure - Within a couple minutes to 2 hours after exposure
(and in rare cases longer) - Once reaction starts, progression can vary
- Not just a lunch-time event!
- Can be biphasic
- www.bestallergysites.com
13Strict Avoidance
- No cure for food allergies
- Key is helping children avoid allergens
- Good attitude
- Careful handling
- Cross-contamination
- Label reading
- Expecting the Unexpected
- www.bestallergysites.com
14Avoiding Cross-Contamination
15What to do
- Require thorough hand washing and teeth brushing
especially if you suspect a student has eaten
peanuts/nuts - Clean eating and working areas carefully
- Discourage food sharing
- Have safe snacks and treats from family
- Do not allow homemade goodies or home prepared
foods (e.g. apples cut at home) - www.bestallergysites.com
16What NOT to give
- If label is ambiguous as to presence of peanut
- If no label present
- Home baked items
- Ice cream
- Bakery Items
- Imported Foods
- www.bestallergysites.com
17Expecting the Unexpected
- What might contain peanuts/tree nuts?
- Its NOT ONLY in the food!!!
- www.bestallergysites.com
18Signs of an Allergic Reaction
- Hives
- Difficulty Breathing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Eczema Flare
- Lightheadedness
- Swelling
- www.bestallergysites.com
19Emergency Action Plan
- Varies for individual child
- Action plan should be in place that is SPECIFIC
for each allergic child - Know the plan
- Know where the medication is located
- www.bestallergysites.com
20THANK YOU
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allergic. Please be an advocate. To know more
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