peer review this post please: Food allergies occur when the body\'s immune syste
ID: 3451832 • Letter: P
Question
peer review this post please:
Food allergies occur when the body's immune system creates antibodies against a substance in a food that causes an allergy. The body then produces histamines, which act to protect itself, when contact with the allergen occurs. Common food allergies in children are milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, and fish. Symptoms of an allergic reaction are runny nose, itchy rash, swelling, and wheezing. Unless it is a peanut or fish allergy, most children with food allergies outgrow them. Precautions to take regarding food allergies include, reading ingredient labels carefully on food and non-food items, teaching children what they should avoid if they have allergies, and to avoid cross contaminations. I know that my daughters school only allows certain prepackaged snacks because there are so many food allergies in children. I have never dealt with anyone with a food allergy, but I can imagine it would be difficult. It seems that everything includes these common allergens or is produced in a factory that uses these ingredients.
Explanation / Answer
This study describes food allergy reaction frequency, circumstances, and response. Pitfalls that may inform improved anticipatory guidance included lack of vigilance, misreading ingredient labels, allergen cross-contact, nonaccidental allergen feeding, and underutilization of epinephrine for severe reactions.Allergic reactions to foods affect up to 8% of children.Food allergy appears to be increasing in prevalence, can be severe,and potentially fatal. Management requires avoidance of the trigger foods and treatment of anaphylaxis promptly with epinephrine. Errors in daily management can result in allergic reactions and undertreatment of severe reactions. (Allergic Reactions to Foods in Preschool-Aged Children in a Prospective Observational Food Allergy Study by David M. Fleischer, MD et al.)
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