Nurse’s Corner: Facts about…

 Food Allergies

 

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An increasing number of children have life-threatening food allergies. Foods most commonly known to produce allergic reactions are:

 

  • Peanuts and tree nuts
  • Shellfish
  • Eggs
  • Soy
  • Milk

 

 Allergic reactions can occur:

Ingestion: when a child eats or drinks food containing the allergen.

Inhalation: some children react when they smell the food.

Touch: others react when touching even a small amount of the food.

 

Prevention of an allergic response:

Avoidance of foods that trigger the allergy is the most important aspect.

Frequently this means carefully reading product labels.

 

Safety measures for the allergic child in school:

When a class has a student with severe food allergies, the parents will be sent a letter requesting that certain foods not be sent in for class parties.

 

Teachers need to have a record of any student who has an allergy problem.