By: Cassie Mattingly

ALLERGIES IN CHILDREN

Background on food allergies

Common food allergies

How reactions occur

Why reactions occur

Prevention

Symptoms of food allergies

How food allergies are diagnosed

How food allergies are treated

How to managed food allergies

OBJECTIVES

Do you know a child with a food allergy?

What kind of symptoms do they have when they have a

reaction?

How can a food allergy be prevented?

What’s one way of testing for a food allergy?

What’s one treatment for food allergies?

How can a food allergy be managed?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

One in 13 kids under 18

About 40% have severe allergic reactions

Do not confuse with food intolerance

Intolerance: similar symptoms (burping, indigestion, gas,

headaches, nervousness, loose stools)

immune system is not involved

can be caused by inability to digest some substances

unpleasant but hardly dangerous

BACKGROUND

8 common food allergensAccount for 90% of all reactionsMilk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fi sh, and

shellfi shMost children outgrow food allergies

• 80% outgrow milk, wheat, and soy• 66% eggs• 20% peanuts• 10% tree nuts• Rarely outgrow shellfish, and usually develop later in life

COMMON FOOD ALLERGIES

Body reacts as though a food is harmful.

Because the body reacts as though the food is harmful our immune system, creates antibodies, to fight the food that triggered the allergy.

When a child comes into contact with the food, antibodies cause cells to release chemicals to protect the body

The chemicals released trigger an allergic reaction

HOW DO REACTIONS OCCUR?

Heredity- have a higher chance of having a food allergy if both

parents have an allergy. About a 30-40 % chance if one parent or a relative have an

allergy. A small chance if neither parent has an allergy but still may

have one. Usually inherit allergy gene not the particular allergy

Seasonal Allergies can occur anytime someone comes in contact with

the allergen. Most foods are seasonal, certain allergies may only happen

during certain seasons

WHY DO CHILDREN HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES?

Breastfeeding for more than 4 months

Wait to introduce solid foods unti l 4 to 6

months

Stil l receives benefi ts of breast milk while

being introduced to solid foods which can

decrease the l ikelihood of an allergy

Feed them least allergenic solids foods

fi rst (save wheat for last when

introducing grains)

PREVENTION

Occur when the body releases chemicals to fi ght off allergen

Respiratory system: wheezing, swelling of the throat

Gastrointestinal tract: vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea

Skin: hives, rash, swelling of lips, tongue, or face

Cardiovascular system: drop in blood pressure, lightheadedness, dizziness

Anaphylaxis: serious reaction that is life threatening involves 2 or more body areas can include swelling of the airway, extreme

diffi culty breathing, decrease in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, or death

SYMPTOMS

Keep track of symptoms, how often the reactions

occur, the time it takes from eating a food to the fi rst

symptom

Contact a doctor

The doctor will make sure the symptoms aren’t from

other conditions

Food intolerance

Celiac Disease- a person cannot tolerate gluten (protein

found in wheat), mimics symptoms of food allergies

Tests are done by allergists to diagnose food allergy

DIAGNOSIS

3 types of testing: Skin test: liquid extracts of a food are

placed on the child’s forearm or back then the skin is pricked or scratched to see if raised, reddish spots (wheals) occur with in 15 minutes.

Blood test: blood is checked for IgE (Immunoglobin E, what triggers food allergies) antibodies to specific foods, shows the concentration of IgE in the blood, specific levels indicate an allergy.

Food Challenge: given amounts of a potential food allergen while being watched. Occurs in a doctors offi ce and often used to determine if a person has outgrown a food allergy. Also used to introduce babies to allergens that may be passed down through genetics.

TYPES OF TESTING

No medications

Medications can treat some symptoms; abdominal

pain, itchy skin, or a runny nose.

Avoid allergen and any foods that may contain it

Epinephrine:

Keep on hand at all times

Treats anaphylaxis

Used when symptoms include a raspy voice, feeling of

tightness in throat, breathing diffi culty, or any symptoms

that contain two or more of the body systems.

TREATMENT

Stay away from the food allergen Be aware when dining out to eat. Ask server or chef if there

could have been cross contamination Emergency medication Food labels:

All 8 allergens have to be listed even in small amounts Must say what type of tree nut of shellfish it contains Must name any ingredient that contains one of the 8 allergen

proteins Must contain any allergen found in flavorings, dyes, or other

additives Be careful of fresh produce, meats, items made and sold in the

same place, and items with little nutrients Not required to label if cross contamination may have occurred Stay away if there is any doubt

Notify people who watch your child Wear a bracelet that states what you’re allergic to

MANAGEMENT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzyLv2IKoGA

KIDS LIVING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES VIDEO

QUESTIONS????

ACAAI . (2010) . Food A l l e rg ie s . Re t r i eved f rom h t tp : / /www.acaa i .o rg/a l l e rg i s t /a l l e rg ie s /Types / food-a l l e rg ie s /Pages /de fau l t . a spx

ACAAI . (2010) . Food Al le rg ie s in Ch i ld ren . Re t r i eved f rom h t tp : / /www.acaa i .o rg /a l l e rg i s t / a l l e rg ie s / ch i ld ren -a l l e rg ie s /Pages /ch i ld - food-a l l e rg ie s . a spx

Desmond , T. M. (2014 ) . In t roduc ing Baby to So l id Foods w i th A l l e rgy Awareness . Ret r i eved f rom h t tp : / /www.pa ren t s . com/baby /hea l th /a l l e rgy / in t roduc ing - so l id s - to -p reven t -a l l e rg ie s /#page=5

Desmond , T.M. (2014 ) . In t roduc ing Baby to So l id Foods w i th A l l e rgy Awareness . Ret r i eved f rom h t tp : / /www.pa ren t s . com/baby /hea l th /a l l e rgy / in t roduc ing - so l id s - to -p reven t -a l l e rg ie s /#page=6

Desmond , T.M. (2014 ) . In t roduc ing Baby to So l id Foods w i th A l l e rgy Awareness . Ret r i eved f rom h t tp : / /www.pa ren t s . com/baby /hea l th /a l l e rgy / in t roduc ing - so l id s - to -p reven t -a l l e rg ie s /#page=10

FARE. (2014 ) . B lood Tes t s . Re t r i eved f rom h t tp : / /www.fooda l l e rgy.o rg/d iagnos i s -and - t e s t ing /b lood- te s t s

FARE. (2014 ) . Tip s fo r Manag ing Food Al le rg ie s . Re t r i eved f rom h t tp : / /www.fooda l l e rgy.o rg / t ip s - fo r-manag ing - food -a l l e rg ie s

Kids Hea l th . (2014 ) . Al l Abou t A l l e rg ie s . Re t r i eved f rom h t tp: / /k id shea l th .o rg /pa ren t /med ica l / a l l e rg ie s / a l l e rgy.h tml#

Kids Hea l th . (2012 ) . Food A l l e rg ie s . Ret r i eved f rom h t tp: / /k id shea l th .o rg /pa ren t /med ica l / a l l e rg ie s / food_a l l e rg ie s .h tml t r ack ing=P_Re la tedAr t i c l e

Mayo Cl in ic S ta ff . (2014) Food a l l e rg ie s : Unders tand ing food labe l . Re t r i eved f rom h t tp: / /www.mayoc l in ic .o rg /d i sea se s -cond i t ions /food -a l l e rgy / in -dep th / food- a l l e rg ie s / a r t -20045949?pg=1

YouTube . (2007) . Kids L iv ing Wi th Food A l l e rg ie s [Video ] . Ava i l ab le f rom h t tp s : / /www.you tube .com/wa tch?v=AzyLv2IKoGA

REFERENCE