Grandparent’s Guide: Caring for Grandchildren who have Food Allergies
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Transcript of Grandparent’s Guide: Caring for Grandchildren who have Food Allergies
Grandparent’s Guide:Caring for Grandchildren who have Food
Allergies
Food Allergy Basics Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance Common Food Allergens Food Allergy Reactions Treating a Reaction Epinephrine Storage How Grandparent Can Help:
◦ Awareness◦ Education◦ Be Prepared◦ Advocacy
Grandparent’s Guide
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Food Allergy Basics Affects as many as 15 million Americans
◦ Nearly 6 million or 8% of children have food allergies with young children affected most
◦ 2 million school-aged children (aged 5-17)◦ An estimated 9 million, or 4%, of adults have food
allergies
Prevalence appears to be increasing among children under 18
There is no cure; strict avoidance is the only way to prevent a reaction
Managing one’s food allergy on a daily basis involves constant vigilance
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What is a Food Allergy? A food allergy is an immune system
response to a food protein the body mistakenly believes is harmful
When a person eats an allergy-causing food, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, such as histamine, that trigger many symptoms that can affect the skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiac systems
Reactions can be fatal
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A Food Allergy is NOT: A food intolerance (lactose intolerance)
◦ An intolerance does not involve the immune system; it involves the digestive system. For example, those with lactose intolerance lack an enzyme needed to digest and process lactose.
◦ Symptoms of intolerance include gas, bloating, and abdominal pain.
A dislike of food
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Anaphylaxis Potentially life-threatening allergic
reaction
Symptoms can begin within minutes to hours after ingestion
Food allergy is leading cause of anaphylaxis outside of the hospital setting
Other causes include insect bite/sting, medication, latex, exercise, and unknown causes
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Common Food Allergens
In the U.S., eight major food allergens account for 90% of all reactions:◦ Milk Eggs◦ Peanuts Tree nuts (e.g., walnuts, pecans)◦ Wheat Soy◦ Fish (e.g., salmon, halibut)◦ Shellfish (e.g., lobster, shrimp, crab)
Almost any food can cause a reaction Emerging food allergens include sesame and
other types of seeds
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Treating a Reaction Reactions are treated with epinephrine
(adrenaline) Epinephrine is prescribed as an auto-
injector device (EpiPen®, Adrenaclick®) Prompt administration of epinephrine is
crucial to surviving a potentially life-threatening reaction
Epinephrine is a safe medication; transient side effects such as pallor or tremor mean that the epinephrine dose has been absorbed and is working all over the body
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Food Allergy Reactions Trace amounts of an allergen can trigger a
reaction Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is
rapid in onset and may cause death
◦ Inject epinephrine immediately and call 911 (See Food Allergy Action Plan)
◦ Reactions can occur within minutes of ingestion or up to two hours after
◦ A biphasic reaction (in which symptoms disappear and recur without further ingestion of the food that caused the initial reaction) can occur hours after the initial reaction
Go to the emergency room after the reaction has been treated 9
Food Allergy Reactions Localized reactions caused by touch, such
as localized hives◦ Give antihistamine (See Food Allergy Action Plan)
Inhalation reactions possible, but rare. Smell alone cannot cause an allergic reaction; the food protein needs to be present◦ Cooking fumes (milk being steamed, fish being
cooked)◦ Peanut dust (airplanes)
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Food Allergy Action Plan
Mouth◦ Itchy, tingling, swelling of
lips/tongue Nose
◦ Hay fever-like symptoms: runny, itchy nose;
sneezing; and/or watery, red eyes
Skin◦ Hives, rash, redness, itching◦ Flushing (redness and
warmth)◦ Swelling of face or
extremities Gut
◦ Cramps/pain◦ Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Possible Symptoms of a Reaction
Throat◦ Hoarseness◦ Tightening of throat,
difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing
◦ Hacking cough Lungs
◦ Shortness of breath, wheezing
◦ Repetitive, hacking cough Heart
◦ Low blood pressure, weak pulse
◦ Pale blue color◦ Dizzy, fainting
Mental◦ Anxiety, “sense of
impending doom”◦ Lethargy
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How a child might describe a reaction
My throat is itchy My throat feels thick There’s something stuck in my throat My tongue is hot (or burning) Something is poking my tongue It feels like there is hair on my tongue My tongue feels full (or heavy) It feels like bugs in my ear (itchy ear)
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Teens: A Special Consideration
Teens are at a high-risk:
◦peer pressure to be “normal”
◦not carrying medication
◦going off alone
◦not knowing what to do
◦not recognizing signs/symptoms
◦friends not knowing what to do
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Epinephrine Storage Store at room temperature Avoid extreme heat or cold – don’t refrigerate;
don’t leave in the car! Check for discoloration and expiration date
periodically (auto-injectors should be replaced yearly)
Always check expiration dates before leaving pharmacy and when caring for your grandchild
Should be quickly accessible by anyone responsible for handling an emergency
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How Grandparents Can Help
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Read food labels EVERY time – ingredients can change without warning
Understand food labeling◦ While the top-8 allergen foods are required to be
labeled in simple language (e.g., “milk” instead of “casein”), advisory statements such as “May contain” are voluntary FAAN’s FREE download “How to Read A Label” sheet FAAN’s FREE download “Chef Cards”
At restaurants, always speak with the chef and/ or manager
Awareness
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Post child’s Food Allergy Action Plan on refrigerator or on kitchen cabinets with the child’s allergies and emergency contacts
Ask your children where you can find out more information about food allergies
Inform others by participating in Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW)
Visit www.foodallergy.org
Awareness - continued
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Listen closely to what your children are saying about how food allergies affect their day to day lives and how they are dealing with it
It is IMPERATIVE that parents feel the child’s grandparents can be “trusted” to provide care
Learn the symptoms of allergic reactions
Read articles, books, online reports, medical journals, and FAAN’s (www.foodallergy.org) and Food Allergy Initiative’s (www.faiusa.org) websites
Education
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Cross-contact (sometimes referred to as cross-contamination)
◦Occurs when one food comes into contact with another food and their proteins mix. As a result, each food then contains small amounts of the other food that are often invisible to us.
Education - continued
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Sources of cross-contact:◦Cooking oils, splatter, and steam from cooking foods
◦When a food allergen comes into contact with a serving utensil, countertop, pot or pan, wash the item thoroughly in hot, soapy water Examples include: spoons, knives, spatulas,
tongs, cutting boards, bowls, sheet pans Do not forget fryers and grills
Education - continued
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Carefully and completely read ingredient labels
Offer to attend the grandchild’s doctor visit(s) to help understand the severity of the food allergy
Discuss grandchild’s food restrictions with others to alleviate any tension and make people more comfortable around the child(ren)
Anaphylaxis is possible even if you do not see hives and/or skin rash
Education - continued
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Follow parents’ directives If you suspect a reaction – DO NOT hesitate
– give epinephrine – call emergency medical services (i.e., 911)
Knowledge is POWER!
Education - continued
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Practice injection technique using an auto-injector trainer
Educate caregivers on the symptoms of allergic reactions when they care for a child with food allergies
Example – hives, swelling of the lips, difficulty breathing
Have a plan ahead before a reaction occurso Food Allergy Action Plan
Be Prepared
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Always carry epinephrine if prescribed for your grandchild
Preferably, carry two auto-injectors in case a second epinephrine dose is needed
Be Prepared
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Make sure you have grandchild’s medication (epinephrine, antihistamine, etc.) unless parent is bringing them◦ Pantry – store safe foods together
◦ Store allergy-containing foods out of the child’s reach or remove from the home
◦ Refrigerator – designate a shelf for allergy-free foods
Before Your Grandchild Arrives
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If the grandchild with food allergies lives close by, have “safe” snacks handy in the event of an unplanned visit
Customize meals for safety AND food preferences
Prepare meals that are allergen-free◦ Modify recipes using safe substitutes
Read all food labels; call the manufacturer with questions
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Before Your Grandchild Arrives - continued
Clean countertops thoroughly with hot, soapy water, using a clean, disposable cloth before preparing allergy-free foods to minimize the risk of prior cross-contact
When preparing food, always use separate utensils
Consider applying brightly colored stickers on safe food items
Beware of allergen-containing “surprises”:
o Pet foodo Lotions, hair care products, cosmeticso Play dough
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Before Your Grandchild Arrives - continued
If you are planning to dine out, call restaurant, identify yourself, and speak to chef and/or manager about the food allergy and appropriate menu choices Speak to manager and chef again when arriving at the
restaurant Remind the chef to avoid cross-contact
Many restaurants will prepare a special meal using separate utensils
If you take your grandchild on an “outing,” be aware of situations involving food (i.e., free food samples, animal feed at petting zoos)
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Before Your Grandchild Arrives - continued
BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR GRANDCHILD
Learn about legislation/statewide guidelines on the FAAN Advocacy page: www.foodallergy.org/section/state
Become active in promoting food allergy awareness throughout your community
Join a local support group
Participate in a food allergy fundraiser, such as FAAN’s Walk for Food Allergy
Do your own food allergy fundraiser
JOIN FAAN!
Advocacy
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