As more than 2.2 million children with food allergies
head back to school in coming weeks, the American
Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
encourages parents, in cooperation with school staff,
to take measures to ensure safety.
"Open and frequent communication between parents
and school staff is a key ingredient to keeping food-allergic
students out of harm," said Michael Pistiner,
MD, MMSc, whose own nut-allergic son enters kindergarten
this fall. "It takes a partnership to establish
effective avoidance strategies and emergency plans."
To assist parents and school staff as they prepare
for students with food allergies, the AAAAI offers
a checklist of tips and a sample food allergy action
plan. Both resources can be downloaded at no cost
at http://www.aaaai.org.
Among the tips included in the checklist:
- Inform the school cafeteria, teachers and other
staff of what foods to avoid. Pack bag lunches. Have
your child avoid classroom snacks and sharing food
with friends.
- Send safe snacks to school anytime the classroom
is having a party (birthday, holidays, etc.).
- Advocate for "no eating" policies on
buses and in other settings where kids aren't supervised.
Another important consideration: "Parents should
be aware of expiration dates and keep in contact
with their allergist to insure that all medication,
especially self-injectable epinephrine, is replaced
prior to expiration," said Pistiner, a member
of the AAAAI Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee.
The AAAAI checklist also offers guidance for students
with asthma and other allergic diseases.
An allergist/immunologist is the best-qualified
medical professional to diagnose and treat food allergies.
Once an allergy trigger is identified, an allergist/immunologist
can provide detailed information on avoidance.
The AAAAI offers food allergy fact sheets, educational
brochures and other resources for patients and school
staff online at http://www.aaaai.org. The Web site
also features a physician referral directory to help
patients locate an allergist/immunologist in their
area.
The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists,
clinical immunologists, allied health professionals
and others with a special interest in the research
and treatment of allergic disease. Established in
1943, the AAAAI is the United States' largest professional
membership organization dedicated to the allergy/immunology
specialty. The AAAAI has nearly 6,500 members in
the United States, Canada and 60 other countries.
