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 allergens  Account for 90% of all reactions  Milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish  Most 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 % 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 until 4 to 6 months  Still receives benefits of breast milk while being introduced to solid foods which can decrease the likelihood of an allergy  Feed them least allergenic solids foods first (save wheat for last when introducing grains) PREVENTION

 Occur when the body releases chemicals to fight 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 difficulty 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 first 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 office 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 difficulty, 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

 KIDS LIVING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES VIDEO

QUESTIONS????

 ACAAI. (2010). Food Allergies. Retrieved from allergies/Types/food-allergies/Pages/default.aspxhttp://  ACAAI. (2010). Food Allergies in Children. Retrieved from allergist/allergies/children-allergies/Pages/child-food-allergies.aspxhttp://  Desmond, T. M. (2014). Introducing Baby to Solid Foods with Allergy Awareness. Retrieved from solids-to-prevent-allergies/#page=5  Desmond, T.M. (2014). Introducing Baby to Solid Foods with Allergy Awareness. Retrieved from solids-to-prevent-allergies/#page=6  Desmond, T.M. (2014). Introducing Baby to Solid Foods with Allergy Awareness. Retrieved from solids-to-prevent-allergies/#page=10  FARE. (2014). Blood Tests. Retrieved from and-testing/blood-testshttp://  FARE. (2014). Tips for Managing Food Allergies. Retrieved from  Kids Health. (2014). All About Allergies. Retrieved from  Kids Health. (2012). Food Allergies. Retrieved from tracking=P_RelatedArticle  Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014) Food allergies: Understanding food label. Retrieved from allergies/art ?pg=1http://  YouTube. (2007). Kids Living With Food Allergies [Video]. Available from REFERENCE