Managing Food Allergies in Schools

Abstract

Food allergies are estimated to affect as many as 8 % of children with 2.5 % being allergic to peanut products. Based on the results of recent surveys, this prevalence has been increasing over the last few decades for unknown reasons. As children with food allergies reach school age, the issue is becoming more common in schools. For that reason, schools are now required to be prepared to take responsibility for the safety of food-allergic students. This review discusses the common problems surrounding management of food allergies in the school setting along with reasonable recommendations for addressing those problems. The most important component of food allergy management is for the student to get an accurate diagnosis and to then discuss development of an anaphylaxis action plan with their health-care provider. Each school should insist that a copy of such a plan be provided for each student with food allergy and that epinephrine is readily available should a student have an anaphylactic reaction. In addition to epinephrine, it is essential that school personnel be properly trained to recognize and treat allergic reactions should they occur. Known deficiencies in school preparedness have been documented in previous literature, and consequently, both state and the federal government have begun to implement policies to help with school preparedness.

Food Allergy Knowledge and Attitudes Among School Teachers in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

“…Severe fatal food allergy reaction at school is rare but have been reported [8]. Safety and management of food allergy reaction is an issue that is gaining increasing attentions [9] and mainly the problem of school preparedness [10]. Nearly all schools in developed countries are supplemented with food allergy guidelines [11,12].…”

Gestão do cuidado seguro da criança alérgica ao leite: a saúde do escolar e suas perspectivas

“…Visitas regulares aos alergistas e prescrição de caneta de adrenalina atualizada (Cabrera et al, 2017;Feuille et al, 2017) foram ações apontadas como medida de segurança para criança, além da necessidade de administração de adrenalina precocemente (Dumeier et al, 2018;Song & Lieberman, 2019;Urrutia-Pereira et al, 2018), que pode ser garantido através de estoque de epinefrina nas escolas (Cabrera et al, 2017;DeSantiago-Cardenas et al, 2015;Moritz & Schoessler, 2018;Portnoy & Shroba, 2014;Schoessler & White, 2013;Steffens et al, 2017;Szychlinski et al, 2015;Tsuang & Wang, 2016;White et al, 2017;Zadikoff et al, 2014) e também pelo porte de auto injetores de adrenalina pelo estudante (Chipps, 2013;Solé et al, 2018).…”

“…A maior parte dos artigos apontou a urgência na criação de Programas de Treinamento com cursos teórico-práticos para atendimentos de emergências nas alergias, anafilaxia para profissionais de educação (Chipps, 2013;Dumeier et al, 2018;Feuille et al, 2017;Juliá-Benito et al, 2017;Kao et al, 2018;Moritz & Schoessler, 2018;Murphy, 2014;Polloni et al, 2016;Portnoy & Shroba, 2014;Pouessel et al, 2017;Russell & Schoessler, 2017;Szychlinski et al, 2015;Tsuang et al, 2017;Tsuang & Wang, 2016;Urrutia-Pereira et al, 2018;Vale et al, 2015;Wahl et al, 2015), se estendendo também aos funcionários da cozinha e lanchonetes .…”

“…Uma ação amplamente utilizada em outros países é o Plano de ação individualizado de emergência para alunos com alergias alimentares (Cabrera et al, 2017;NASN School Nurse, 2013;Oriel & Wang, 2018;Portnoy & Shroba, 2014;Pouessel et al, 2017;Schoessler & White, 2013;Sicherer et al, 2017;Steffens et al, 2017;Tanner & Clarke, 2016;Tsuang & Wang, 2016), onde a enfermeira escolar é a responsável pela confecção deste plano e todo manejo da criança alérgica. Outra medida apontada foi a necessidade de ampliar a cobertura de enfermeiros em todo horário escolar Pouessel et al, 2017;Senado Federal, 2018;Sicherer et al, 2017;Silva et al, 2016;Tanner & Clarke, 2016;Vale et al, 2013).…”

Rescue Medicine for Epilepsy in Education Settings

“…5 Similar issues have been discussed regarding school-based management of asthma, diabetes, and food allergies. [6][7][8] …”