� As more than 2.2 million children with nutrient allergies heading back to school in coming weeks, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) encourages parents, in cooperation with school staff, to ingest measures to ensure safety.
"Open and frequent communicating between parents and shoal staff is a key ingredient to keeping food-allergic students out of hurt," said Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, whose own nut-allergic son enters kindergarten this fall. "It takes a partnership to establish in effect avoidance strategies and hand brake plans."
To assist parents and school staff as they set for students with food allergies, the AAAAI offers a checklist of tips and a sample intellectual nourishment allergy action plan. Both resources can buoy 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 old bag lunches. Have your kid avoid classroom snacks and sharing solid 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 touch with their allergist to insure that all medication, especially self-injectable epinephrine, is replaced prior to expiry," said Pistiner, a member of the AAAAI Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee.
The AAAAI checklist also offers direction for students with bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases.
An allergist/immunologist is the best-qualified medical professional to diagnose and treat solid food allergies. Once an allergic reaction trigger is identified, an allergist/immunologist tin provide elaborated information on avoidance.
The AAAAI offers food allergic reaction fact sheets, educational brochures and other resources for patients and school stave online at http://www.aaaai.org. The Web site as well features a physician referral directory to help patients locate an allergist/immunologist in their area.
The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied wellness professionals and others with a limited interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI is the United States' largest professional membership organisation dedicated to the allergy/immunology specialty. The AAAAI has nearly 6,500 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries.
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