Does your child have Asthma? According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), 1 in 10 children have Asthma. These children miss 13 million school days yearly, states the AAAAI. Absenteeism from Asthma is not a given. Although there is no cure for Asthma, it can be managed. The more you know about Asthma, the more likely you will be able to control it.
Asthma is a condition in which the airways become inflamed, leading to muscles tightening and thick mucus being made. You feel short of breath and tightness in your chest. One mother* of 2 children with food allergy induced asthma described Asthma this way, “ It’s not so much what it looks like. It’s a sound. The wheeze. You first hear the wheeze when your child is inhaling and exhaling. It’s like a soft rattle in the breath. When it gets worse, you can see the rib cage pulling the skin in. That’s called retraction. If asthma progresses to this stage, it can be deadly.” In 2007 (the most current information), 185 children died from an Asthma attack.
Food allergies can trigger an Asthma attack. Most people are allergic to the “Big Eight” – eggs, fish, milk, tree nuts (e.g.. almonds, cashews, pecans), peanuts, shellfish, soybeans and wheat. And you don’t need much to induce an allergic reaction! Tiny amounts of an allergen can trigger an asthma attack.
The only way to protect your child from an Asthma attack triggered by food allergies is avoidance. You try your hardest to make your home a safe haven. However, 6 hours a day you send your child off to school, away from your watchful eye. Now what? In a perfect world, you have an allergen free school. It’s possible, but you have to work to achieve this goal. Some steps to aid in this process include:
? Create a “Care Plan”, explaining the allergies, symptoms, treatment, medications, emergency actions, etc.
? Sit down and discuss the Care Plan with everyone involved with your child, including daycare providers, bus drivers, teachers, school nurse and principal; make sure everyone gets a hard copy of the plan.
? Get all forms/paperwork from the school that is required in order to have emergency medication available for your child. You and your pediatrician will need to complete portions of this information.
? Since teachers are on the front lines of protecting your child, make sure that label reading is clearly understood. The ingredients must be checked; the Big 8 allergens are in bold. Directly under the ingredient list, you will see a statement that highlights any of the Big 8 allergens that are in that food item, which starts with “Contains: “. There may also be a voluntary statement that details potential cross contamination (when a food that is not an allergen is at risk of exposure to any of the Big 8 during food handling, processing, preparation; use of a shared conveyor belt, utensil, food vat, mixing bowl, etc.). This statement looks like – “this product is processed in a plant that also processes”; listing all of the top 8 allergens that may be processed at the same facility.
? Educate your child! He needs to know about Asthma and the foods that trigger it. Teach your child not to trade/share food, not to eat any food with unknown ingredients, to read a food label before putting anything in her mouth. Furthermore, make sure that your child knows to tell an adult when he has eaten something suspect, and how to recognize symptoms. The Mom from earlier adds, “Both my girls had full understanding of what their food allergy meant at the age of 2. So very young kids can understand their medical condition and the potential serious consequences as well.”
? Give your child his/her own water bottle. Many little hands and lips touch the water fountain, leaving remnants of lunches.
? Provide your child’s meals. Although schools try hard to keep away allergens in the kitchen, there is always the concern of cross
? Set up a “safe table” in the cafeteria. This table is designated as “allergen free”. It is washed with a cloth/bucket that is different from the other tables.
? Ask for a list of birthdays for the class. On those days, send in a yummy snack that you know is safe to eat. You could also suggest that the class have non-food treats (e.g. stickers, pencils, etc.) for special events in place of food.
It is tough keeping your child safe from allergens when away from home. However if you involve all of those people who have contact with your child, you will naturally evolve into a team. So, instead of just having two watchful eyes, you will have many.
* for privacy, this Mother prefers not to have her name in print
Jennifer Giffune, R.D., L.D.N. Is a freelance author, professional speaker and nutrition counselor. She currently is providing nutrition counseling services for Hampden County Physician Associates at their offices in Westfield, Southwick, Feeding Hills and West Springfield. If you would like to schedule a counseling session with Jennifer, please call (413) 786-1500.
