Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life threatening allergic reaction to a trigger (allergen). It can begin suddenly and proceed quickly. Anaphylaxis reactions are defined as a medical emergency.
Anaphylaxis occurs due to an intense overreaction of the body, which mistakes a harmless substance as being harmful, and releases large amounts of histamine in defense. The reactions can vary and can affect the skin, respiratory, cardiovascular, central nervous, and gastrointestinal systems.
The most common triggers for anaphylaxis are food, insect stings, medication, latex, and exercise.
In food anaphylaxis the reaction is to a protein in the food. The most common foods to cause anaphylaxis are peanuts*, tree nuts*, (and foods containing nut protein*), fish, shellfish, eggs, soy, wheat and dairy.
As with every health condition, food allergies can have a spectrum of severity which differs between individuals with the identical diagnosis. In addition to reacting to the ingestion of food, some people will have an allergic reaction triggered by the inhalation and / or touch of the offending food.
Anaphylaxis must be treated with an injection of epinephrine at the first signs of a reaction, followed by prompt transfer of the person to a hospital emergency room for treatment and observation.
There is no scientifically proven cure for true food allergies. People with food-induced anaphylaxis must be vigilant and strict about avoiding an offending food allergen.
There are many students attending DCS with life threatening allergies to foods and / or bee stings.
Administrative guidelines are in place for students with food anaphylaxis. Parents of students in K - 8 classes with a severely food allergic child will be informed of the of the specific food(s) the child is allergic to through the classroom teachers newsletter and are requested not to bring the food causing the allergen to the classroom**. Parents are encouraged to provide ingredient lists for all baked goods brought to the classroom of a student with food anaphylaxis. Ingredients in prepackaged foods should be checked prior to distribution
* Peanut anaphylaxis is NOT the same thing as tree nut anaphylaxis.
Some students are allergic to peanuts (a legume) while others are allergic to tree nuts. If a student is allergic to a tree nut there is a high probability that they will develop an allergic to other tree nuts, and hence ALL tree nuts must be avoided.
Tree nuts are walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, pistachios, brazil nuts and hazel nuts.
Some students are allergic to ALL nuts, including peanuts and tree nuts.
**During the holidays (Halloween, Christmas, Valentines etc.) it is common for special events and parties to be held. If you receive information from your students teacher requesting that certain food(s) not be brought into the classroom because there is a student with a known food-induced anaphylaxis we ask that you please honor these requests for the health and safety of all our students.
We ask all parents to help keep our Dexter students safe by following the guidelines for classrooms where food allergies are present. Please check package labels for the ingredient and avoid sending items to school that contain the ingredient. In the case of nut allergies, look not only for the item containing peanuts and /or tree nuts but check to see if it may contain "traces of peanuts or tree nuts" or if it was "processed in a plant that contains peanuts or tree nuts". For example, often candy corn is processed in a plant that contains nuts, and even plain M and M's contain peanuts. Items such as these can be dangerous to a food allergic child. If bringing in home baked goods be aware of ingredients, for example the use of almond extract in cookies for a classroom with an individual allergic to tree nuts.
We appreciate your help in keeping all our students safe. If you have further questions or concerns regarding this issue please feel free to contact the school nurse, Aileen Kernohan, by emailing aileen@dexter.k12.mi.us or calling 424-4100 X1051.
For more information, plese contact Aileen Kernohan, RN - School Nurse at 734-424-4100 ext. 1051.
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Food allergy fact versus fiction
A true food allergy is an abnormal response of the immune system to certain foods or ingredients.
Food allergies are NOT the same as food intolerances, food aversions, food poisoning, or a food sensitivity.
A true food allergy can NOT be avoided if the food is only eaten in small quantities, and will NOT be cured if only eaten on select days of the week.
Most individuals that have had a reaction ate a food that they thought was safe.
Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital setting.
Anaphylaxis accounts for an estimated 30,000 emergency room hospital visits each year.
