Leaving home: Helping teens with allergic conditions become independent

Living with Food Hypersensitivity as an Adolescent Impairs Health Related Quality of Life Irrespective of Disease Severity: Results from a Population-Based Birth Cohort

“…Whereas children with FHS are more dependent on their parents, the increased independence associated with adolescence creates additional challenges that may affect their health. Stukus et al showed that allergic conditions may adversely affect health during this transition phase, given that adolescents are inclined toward risk-taking behaviors [ 48 ].…”

Evaluation of Proper Inhaler Use in Children Acute Asthma Admitted to the Emergency Department: A Single Center Cross-sectional Study

“…Also, the administration of inhaler by the parents was identified as independent risk factor for the use of rescue inhaler therapy. During the adolescent period, most patients often do not want to accept their illness, have fewer clinical follow-up visits, and feel less need to use rescue treatment (15). They are also often more careless when using medication.…”

The Development of Age-Based Food Allergy Educational Handouts for Caregivers and Patients: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee

“…As older adolescents and young adults transition toward primary responsibility for day-to-day food allergy management, it is important for them to understand strategies for managing food allergies in shared living situations, college, the workplace, and romantic relationships, and also understand key aspects of managing their own health care (eg, scheduling medical appointments, filling prescriptions, understanding insurance coverage and copayments). 39,40 Consistent with such developmental transitions in food allergy management, caregivers report the need for "roadmaps" for educating children about food and involving them in their own self-care over time. 4,9,10,12,41 Common caregiver concerns include how to balance safety with social inclusion and how to teach children to be aware of possible consequences of allergic reactions without instilling excessive fear and anxiety in the child.…”