1. Young Children’s Health Issues Food Allergies

2. These Items Represent 90% of all Food Allergies in Children Today milk and milk products soybeans wheat and wheat products peanuts and tree nuts fish and shellfish

3. Parent Communication parents need to inform the teacher of any food allergies an action plan needs to be put in place web site http://www.food-allergy.org is a excellent web site to establish the planhttp://www.food-allergy.org all staff should be aware of the plan including substitutes

4. Teacher Awareness teachers need to be alert to these food allergies in their students consider the food allergies when: planning lessons field trips special occasions holiday celebrations

5. Teacher Awareness cont. explain the situation and importance to the other students tell them not to share their food a list should be posted in the classroom with the students that have a food allergy one teacher should be responsible for monitoring the situation

6. Symptoms wheezing and difficulty breathing itchy skin rashes including hives vomiting, diarrhea, nausea abdominal pain and swelling around the mouth and in the throat symptoms may be mild or very severe

7. Symptoms cont. severe reaction can cause anaphylaxis anaphylaxis is a severe reaction and causes difficulty breathing, swelling in the mouth and throat, decreased blood pressure, shock and even death

8. Management educate your child to avoid foods that he is allergic to. learn to read labels and know what is in the food before eating it no improvement see an allergy specialist for testing children with severe allergic reactions need to wear a medical alert bracelet children with severe allergic reactions should carry an epinephrine auto injector