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A Guide to Allergies
Food Allergies
Food allergies are among the
most dangerous types of allergies out there. It
is the result of the immune system not reacting
properly to certain foods, or certain
ingredients in foods. The most common food
allergies are nuts, milk, and eggs. Some people
just feel ill when they consume something they
are allergic to. Others experience swelling in
the face, and swelling in the body, closing air
paths. Hives and rashes are also very common.
Peanut allergies are said to be the worst. Not
only do they cause the most severe symptoms,
peanut oil is used in so many foods that the
number of items that the person has to avoid can
be very long. Last year, a teenage girl died.
She had gone to the library to study with
friends. Her boyfriend had eaten a peanut butter
sandwich after school before joining them. He
gave her a goodbye kiss at the library, and the
reaction from the peanut oil swelled her throat
shut. While it sounds extremely, sadly such
occurrences do take place.
Very young children can have food allergies. It
is recommended that you attach a list of any
food allergies securely to the diaper bag. This
will be a constant reminder to friends, family,
and childcare providers. It is important
children with food allergies are aware of the
reasons why they can’t have certain foods. This
will remind them to make the right food choices
at school. It is important that your child’s
principal and teachers know about the allergies
as well. Often there are class parties, and if
your child is tempted to eat food they are
allergic to, the teacher can remind them.
The internet is a wonderful
place to find out about food allergies. The Food
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network has an excellent
website full of information. The organization
was formed in 1991. It has over 30,000 members
including families, dietitians, nurses,
physicians, school administrators, teachers,
government staff, and members of the food and
drug administration. This diverse group works
together to educate about food allergies by
providing accurate information and heightening
awareness. They carefully monitor TV,
newspapers, and the news channels to be sure
accurate information is being released to the
public. They also lobby for further research to
be done in the area of food allergies.
While there is no cure for food allergies that
we know of, properly learning about such food
allergies and working with a qualified doctor
can help you find ways to control them. It is
important if you or a family member has a food
allergy that you make it know to those you are
frequently in contact with. This includes
co-workers, family, friends, neighbors, and
daycare providers. This will help them learn
about the issue as well as be able to get
medical attention to you if the situation
arises. The fact that they are able to let
medical professionals know you have such food
allergies can make all the difference in h how
fast they are able to administer treatment.
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