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Any caregivers, and, if age-appropriate, the child, should be trained on using emergency medication
Emotional Rescue Children with food allergies may experience bullying, teasing or other forms of harassment due to their con- dition, so educating kids about food allergies is important. Kids should understand how and why food al- lergies occur, along with possible symptoms that may develop with an exposure or reaction. It’s important to empower kids who will be with your child by imparting the serious- ness of the condition and their role in keeping any child with food allergies safe. This is an opportunity to discuss the seriousness of bullying kids who are different, such as those with food allergies, and how such behavior will not be tolerated.
Kids with food allergies should be allowed to assimilate into their surroundings as much as possible. Unfortunately, although the majority of childhood food allergies are to eggs, milk, wheat, peanuts and tree nuts, the incidence of multiple food allergies — as well as having allergy symptoms to uncommon foods — makes it diffi cult to fully protect kids who may react to these foods.
Tips for Parents, Kids and Caregivers
* Educate kids with food allergies on hand-washing before and after
eating, not sharing food with other children, the use of napkins when eating, proper cleaning of meal spaces and the disposal of uneaten foods, to reduce the likelihood of ac- cidental exposure.
Ready, Set, Grow
* Teach children with food allergies as much as possible about how to
prevent accidental exposure, how to read labels properly and how to respond to any symptoms that may occur. Encourage them to wear a bracelet or necklace that identifi es their condition.
* Show kids with food allergies how to politely refuse food from other
kids and how to inform others of their specifi c food allergies. Role-playing can be helpful.
* Help kids with food allergies focus on all of the foods they are able to eat,
and how they can make eating those foods a fun, pleasurable experience.
* Educate any food preparation/caf- eteria staff about food allergies, and
introduce children with food allergies to them, as these individuals are at the front line of prevention or treat- ment of a reaction.
* Remind everyone in your child’s setting that in addition to occurring at
mealtime, exposure to food allergens can happen during activities such as art projects, fi eld trips and parties, as well as whenever kids share food.
Elizabeth Eden, MSN, CPNP, is a Certifi ed PNP in Primary Care (CPNP-PC). She works at San Tan Allergy and Asthma in Gilbert, AZ. She has worked in the allergy fi eld for three years.
Neal Jain, MD, is a Board Certifi ed
Allergist and Immunologist. He works at San Tan Allergy and Asthma. He has been a practicing in the allergy fi eld for ten years.
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