Parent Resources
What are food allergies?
Students with food allergies have over-reactive immune systems that target otherwise harmless elements of our diet and environment. During an allergic reaction to the food, the immune system recognizes a specific food protein as a target. This initiates a sequence of events in the cells of the immune system resulting in the release of chemical mediators such as histamine. These chemical mediators trigger inflammatory reactions in the tissues of the skin and the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system.
What is anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening medical condition occurring in allergic individuals after exposure to their specific allergen. Anaphylaxis refers to a collection of symptoms affecting multiple systems in the body. These symptoms may include one or more of the following: hives, vomiting, itching, diarrhea, swelling, stomach cramps, red watery eyes, change of voice, runny nose, difficulty swallowing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, throat tightness or closing, sense of doom, itchy lips, itchy tongue, itchy mouth, itchy throat, fainting, loss of consciousness, flushed skin, pale skin, bluish lips and mouth.
What are the common symptoms of a reaction?
Symptoms may include one or more of the following: a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Symptoms typically occur within minutes to two hours after the person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.
What is the best treatment for food allergy?
Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to avoid a reaction. Reading ingredient labels for all foods is the key to avoiding a reaction. If a product doesn't have a label, individuals with a food allergy should not eat that food. If you have any doubt whether a food is safe, call the manufacturer for more information.
Is there a cure for food allergies?
Currently, there are no medications that cure food allergies. Strict avoidance is the only way to prevent a reaction. Many people outgrow their food allergies, although peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish are often considered lifelong allergies. Research is being done in this area, and advances are being made.
What is the best treatment for a food allergy reaction?
Epinephrine, also called adrenaline, is the medication of choice for controlling a severe reaction. It is available by prescription as a self-injectable device (EpiPen or Twinject).
What is the difference between food allergy and food intolerance?
Many people think the terms food allergy and food intolerance mean the same thing; however, they do not. Food intolerance, unlike a food allergy, does not involve the immune system and is not life-threatening. Lactose intolerance, trouble digesting the milk sugar lactose, is a common example. Symptoms may include abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea.
A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to a certain food. The most common form of an immune system reaction occurs when the body creates immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to the food. When thes IgE antibodies react with the food, histamine and other chemicals (called "mediators") are released, causing hives, asthma, or other symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Students with food allergies have over-reactive immune systems that target otherwise harmless elements of our diet and environment. During an allergic reaction to the food, the immune system recognizes a specific food protein as a target. This initiates a sequence of events in the cells of the immune system resulting in the release of chemical mediators such as histamine. These chemical mediators trigger inflammatory reactions in the tissues of the skin and the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system.
What is anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening medical condition occurring in allergic individuals after exposure to their specific allergen. Anaphylaxis refers to a collection of symptoms affecting multiple systems in the body. These symptoms may include one or more of the following: hives, vomiting, itching, diarrhea, swelling, stomach cramps, red watery eyes, change of voice, runny nose, difficulty swallowing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, throat tightness or closing, sense of doom, itchy lips, itchy tongue, itchy mouth, itchy throat, fainting, loss of consciousness, flushed skin, pale skin, bluish lips and mouth.
What are the common symptoms of a reaction?
Symptoms may include one or more of the following: a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Symptoms typically occur within minutes to two hours after the person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.
What is the best treatment for food allergy?
Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the only way to avoid a reaction. Reading ingredient labels for all foods is the key to avoiding a reaction. If a product doesn't have a label, individuals with a food allergy should not eat that food. If you have any doubt whether a food is safe, call the manufacturer for more information.
Is there a cure for food allergies?
Currently, there are no medications that cure food allergies. Strict avoidance is the only way to prevent a reaction. Many people outgrow their food allergies, although peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish are often considered lifelong allergies. Research is being done in this area, and advances are being made.
What is the best treatment for a food allergy reaction?
Epinephrine, also called adrenaline, is the medication of choice for controlling a severe reaction. It is available by prescription as a self-injectable device (EpiPen or Twinject).
What is the difference between food allergy and food intolerance?
Many people think the terms food allergy and food intolerance mean the same thing; however, they do not. Food intolerance, unlike a food allergy, does not involve the immune system and is not life-threatening. Lactose intolerance, trouble digesting the milk sugar lactose, is a common example. Symptoms may include abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea.
A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to a certain food. The most common form of an immune system reaction occurs when the body creates immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to the food. When thes IgE antibodies react with the food, histamine and other chemicals (called "mediators") are released, causing hives, asthma, or other symptoms of an allergic reaction.
