How to Deal with Your Child's Food Allergy Diagnosis

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By kcmickelson
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Article Rating: (18 Ratings)

Peanuts and tree nuts are common food allergens.

Food allergies are serious business. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, allergic reactions to food are the most common cause of emergency room visits for anaphylaxis. It is estimated that there are 30,000 food-related episodes of anaphylaxis annually and that 100-200 of those result in death.

If your child was recently diagnosed with a food allergy, you need to take steps to educate your family and friends, advocate for your child at school and other institutional settings, and prepare for potential allergic reactions. Here’s how.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Allergist
Prescribed medicines
Computer access
Support of family and friends

Step 1

Visit the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) website. They have information on all things related to food allergies, with a particularly useful page for newly diagnosed people that includes a down-loadable Food Allergy Action Plan form for school use. They also have information to share with family and friends.
Step 2

shellfish are common food allergens

Find out if there is a food allergy support group in your area. Ask your doctor if he or she knows of any groups or simply Google “food allergy support groups in [your town here]”. The FAAN website mentioned above may also have information for your area.
Step 3

medical ID bracelet

Get your child a medical identification bracelet. If you wish to have an ID that gives emergency personnel access to in-depth medical information in the event that you are unavailable, consider a MedicAlert bracelet. MedicAlert will keep a detailed file on your child that emergency medical personnel can access anytime. NO MATTER WHICH TYPE OF MEDICAL ID YOU CHOOSE, MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD WEARS IT. ALWAYS. NO MATTER WHAT.
Step 4

Contact your child’s school upon diagnosis. They will have forms for your child’s doctor to fill out that will be kept in the health office to allow school personnel to administer medication in the event of an allergic reaction at school. These forms will also help teachers determine when a treat brought into the classroom may be inappropriate for your child and take steps to offer an alternative.
Step 5

Get in the habit of carrying an EpiPen, if one is prescribed, and learn how to use it. Every time you visit a restaurant or eat at someone else’s house with your child, that EpiPen needs to be with you. Get an extra one for school/daycare.
Step 6

Peanutbutter label

Learn to read nutritional labels. Some allergens hide in the middle of ingredient lists. Ask your doctor for a list of all ingredient name variations that fall under the category of your child’s food allergy. Some foods share processing equipment with known allergens; e.g., chocolate is often processed on equipment that processes peanuts and that can be enough to cause a reaction in someone allergic to peanuts. This information will be noted at the bottom of the nutritional label.
Step 7

Understand that what might seem like a huge amount of work in the beginning quickly becomes familiar and easier. But don’t take it lightly. Learn your child’s allergic reaction symptoms, ask your doctor if they might change over time, and keep your medicines up to date. EpiPens do have an expiration date after which their effectiveness diminishes.
Step 8

this may not be peanut-free

Don’t assume that your friends and family will remember to avoid reaction-causing foods after you’ve told them about your child’s food allergy. They don’t live with your child’s food allergy every single day and, thus, probably won’t be in the habit of checking every label every time. You’ll need to remind them every once in a while. And teach your child that when they aren’t sure about a food someone offers them, they need to say, “No, thanks!” It’s better to wait than to feel sick.

Comments

eyota53 said

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on 10/3/2009 Good article on How to Deal with Your Child's Food Allergy Diagnosis. Thanks for the great advice . 5*

pamelaa75 said

on 8/11/2009 Great information on how to deal with your child's food allergy diagnosis 5*s and rec

goodselfme said

on 7/11/2009 Thank you for this info on dealing with a diagnosis of food allergy. 5* and a recommend.

delawaregeek said

on 7/8/2009 Food allergies are horrible. As usual this is a well written, very detailed article to help us understand food allergies and how to deal with them. 5 stars.