Food Allergy Information Guide | Best Allergy Sites (1)

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Food Allergy Information Guide Best Allergy Sites

• Best Allergy Sites is to bring allergy and
  intolerance sufferers up to date information and
  support

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Why Choose us?

• Best Allergy Sites is the webs first and
  largest informational guide of environmental
  allergy, food allergy and intolerance web sites
  and blogs.
• Business owners, medical professionals,
  educators, and writers from all over the world
  are manufacturing products, doing research and
  publishing articles and stories to help
  individuals manage their allergies and
  intolerance. Best Allergy Sites is an attempt to
  gather all of those resources in one place.
• Our Mission
• The mission behind Best Allergy Sites is to
  bring allergy and intolerance sufferers up to
  date information and support. We serve as a food
  allergy guide and allergy support community.
• We encourage you to browse our site and see all
  that Best Allergy Sites has to offer.
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Allergy Basics

• Newly Diagnosed
• Allergy Information
• Food Allergy
• Peanut Allergy
• Tree Nut Allergy
• Soy Allergy
• Egg Allergy
• Wheat Allergy
• Dairy Allergy
• Fish Allergy
• www.bestallergysites.com

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What is a Food Allergy?
A food allergy is defined as an immune system
response. If you have a food allergy, your bodys
immune system mistakenly recognizes a food
protein, or allergen, as an invader and produces
antibodies to fight it in an attempt to "protect"
the body. A chemical called histamine is then
released into the bloodstream and acts on the
eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or
gastrointestinal tract and causes symptoms of the
allergic reaction. www.bestallergysites.com
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Intolerance vs. Allergy

• Intolerance
• Reaction to the chemicals in food
• No immune system response
• No serious (life-threatening) side-effects
• Bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort
• Public impression
• Parental interaction
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Food Allergy Facts What the experts say

• Doubling of food allergy over the past 10 years,
  particularly peanut allergy.
• Latest statistics show continual increase with
  peanut allergy as the leading cause
• 12 million Americans affected (4)
• ½ are peanut and/or tree nut
• 3 million school aged children (8)
• Onset at any age

www.bestallergysites.com
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Food Allergy Facts What the experts say

• Food allergy is the leading cause of serious
  allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) outside the
  hospital setting.
• over 30,000 ER visits per year
• 175 deaths annually
• reactions caused most often outside the home and
  by products believed to be safe
• Asthma increases risk of fatal reaction
• Adolescents and young adults are at the highest
  risk
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Food Allergy Facts What the experts say

• Sensitivity to the allergen can vary
• For some, a speck of allergen can have the same
  effect as eating a large quantity
• For some, skin contact with the allergen is
  enough to cause a reaction
• For some, inhalation of the allergen can cause
  discomfort
• Sensitivity is truly unknown
• Affected systems can vary between individuals AND
  reactions
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Food Allergy Facts What the experts say

• Eight foods account for 90 of all reactions

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Peanut Allergy Specific

• 1/250 of a peanut is enough to trigger a reaction
  (cutting a peanut in half 125 times!)
• Severe allergies are typically life-long
• High cross-reactivity to tree nuts (almonds,
  walnuts, etc.)
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Peanut Allergy Specific

• Peanut allergies tend to cause the most severe
  reactions
• Peanut or tree nut allergies and asthma appear to
  increase the risk for fatal reactions
• A study (2001) of 32 cases of fatal food-allergy
  induced anaphylaxis showed gt90 had peanut and
  tree nut allergies, most had asthma and emergency
  medication (epinephrine) was not given or not
  given soon enough.
• A more recent study (2007) also showed a large
  majority of fatalities due to peanuts/tree nuts
  and asthma.
• Estimated that at least ½ of deaths are result of
  peanut/tree nut
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Allergic Reactions - facts

• Severity of reaction can vary from mild to
  serious and potentially fatal
• Previous reactions DO NOT indicate future
  reactions
• An unpredictable physiological change occurs
  after each exposure
• Within a couple minutes to 2 hours after exposure
  (and in rare cases longer)
• Once reaction starts, progression can vary
• Not just a lunch-time event!
• Can be biphasic
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Strict Avoidance

• No cure for food allergies
• Key is helping children avoid allergens
• Good attitude
• Careful handling
• Cross-contamination
• Label reading
• Expecting the Unexpected
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Avoiding Cross-Contamination
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What to do

• Require thorough hand washing and teeth brushing
  especially if you suspect a student has eaten
  peanuts/nuts
• Clean eating and working areas carefully
• Discourage food sharing
• Have safe snacks and treats from family
• Do not allow homemade goodies or home prepared
  foods (e.g. apples cut at home)
• www.bestallergysites.com

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What NOT to give

• If label is ambiguous as to presence of peanut
• If no label present
• Home baked items
• Ice cream
• Bakery Items
• Imported Foods
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Expecting the Unexpected

• What might contain peanuts/tree nuts?
• Its NOT ONLY in the food!!!
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Signs of an Allergic Reaction

• Hives
• Difficulty Breathing
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Eczema Flare
• Lightheadedness
• Swelling
• www.bestallergysites.com

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Emergency Action Plan

• Varies for individual child
• Action plan should be in place that is SPECIFIC
  for each allergic child
• Know the plan
• Know where the medication is located
• www.bestallergysites.com

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