Food Allergies Among School Aged Children on the Rise

According the Food Allergy Network, it is estimated that approximately 6 to 8 percent of all school-aged children suffer from food allergies. The most common food allergies among children are to milk and eggs. However, of the four foods (peanuts, nuts, fish, and shellfish) that produce the most severe allergic reactions, peanuts affect the greatest number of children, and the rate of incidence is increasing.

Highly allergic individuals can experience reactions to even trace amounts of the food. Symptoms occur just after ingesting or coming into contact with the food.

In severe reactions, the victims will experience a fall in blood pressure and a dramatically reduced flow of oxygen to the heart and brain. This severe reaction, in which the body's immune system responds abnormally to the protein in a particular food, is called anaphylactic shock. This is a life-threatening condition which requires immediate emergency medical intervention.

While it is not uncommon for some children to outgrow food allergies, allergies to peanuts, nuts, fish and shellfish are usually lifelong. It appears that peanut allergies are progressive in nature, in which subsequent reactions tend to be more severe.

The East Williston Union Free School District, in an effort to enhance and protect the physical well-being of all its students, is prepared to address the food allergy issue. Paramount to this initiative, is open communication between the parents of food-allergic children and the school. Upon registering a child, parents are urged to discuss the child's special needs with the school nurse so that proper and reasonable accommodations can be made and rapid response procedures established. Those staff members with whom the food-allergic child has contact are advised of the child's needs and appropriate training is provided. Auto-injectors (e.g. Epi Pen), which permit food-allergic children or trained staff members to inject an emergency dose of epinephrine, are provided by the families and are secured in the Health Office.

Of course, the parents of food-allergic children are well aware of the precautions that must be taken to avoid contact with the food to which their child is allergic; however, all members of the school-community are urged to cooperate to ensure the safety of all students. Since peanuts and peanut products, like peanut butter, are very popular, this particular food-allergy poses the greatest challenge in the school setting. Parents of children in self-contained classrooms are advised of the presence of a classmate who is food allergic, and their cooperation is sought to adhere to the following suggested precautions:

* Do not send food items for bake sales and class parties, snacks and lunches to school that contain peanuts of peanut products (food labels must be carefully read since peanut products are used in a variety of foods, candy and pastries);

* Establish a "no-food trading" policy and do not permit children to share utensils; and

* Since highly processed foods are more likely to contain peanut products, consideration should be given to serving simple snacks such as raw vegetables or fruit.

Note: Fred M. Apgar is the director of physical education, athletics and medical services for the East Williston School District.