Food Allergy Management at Schools

Food allergy is a serious condition that can threaten the lives of people especially students at school. Food allergy also known as food hypersensitivity is the immune system's reaction to the types of food containing protein or other ingredients. Thus, a certified allergist is needed to diagnose food allergy. The symptoms of food allergy may greatly vary among individuals because of different exposures to food allergens. The time of attacks and severity also depend on the reaction to the types of food that are eaten. Food allergy's most common symptoms include: skin irritations like hives, eczema, and rashes; gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea; and runny nose, breath shortness, and sneezing. If not treated properly, severe reactions can lead to anaphylaxis, a fatal condition that requires instant medical attention. This is manifested by speedy onset of concurrent reactions such as hives, itching, swollen throat, difficult breathing, low blood pressure, and unconsciousness at some instances. However, if food allergy management is incorporated, students can be handled without too much risk. The secret to its effectiveness lies on knowing and doing the responsibilities of the concerned parties. In this manner, students with food allergies are provided with a safe and sound educational environment. The family of students with food allergy should notify the school about their condition. They must work with the school's administration to create a plan on how to accommodate the needs of their children inside the classroom, cafeteria, post-care programs, school bus, FAAP (Food Allergy Action Plan), and sponsored activities in school. Medical instructions, documentations, and medications provided by the child's physician through the FAAP must be submitted including photos. Medicines must be disposed upon expiration or replaced after use with proper labels. Parents should educate their children about unsafe and safe types of food, strategies to avoid unsafe types of food, allergic symptoms, reading labels of types of food, and right time to tell adult once allergic symptoms occur. Review procedures and policies with your child, child's physician, and school staff. Never forget to give contact information in case of emergency. The school should be knowledgeable regarding federal laws and any district or state policies. They must review the student's health records provided by their physicians and parents. They must create a school team which are composed of a school principal, nurses, teachers, school food services, counselor, and nutrition director to work effectively with both students and parents and establish a major prevention plan. Students with food allergy must be included in all school activities. Fieldtrips and no eating rules on school busses must be thoroughly discussed with parents and administrators. School staff with direct contacts to the students knows about food allergy, recognizes its symptoms, coordinates with other staff to get rid of allergens in the meals, school projects, educational tools, or incentives of allergic students. Proper coordination and cooperation of all school staff is needed so that FAAP becomes efficient and effective. All medications are properly secure and accessible within school premises. However, regulations stated in the federal laws must be strictly followed. The students should never trade different types of food with other students, eat types of food without knowing its ingredients, participate actively on the FAAP, and immediately notify adults in cases of emergency. Students can outgrow their food allergies through proper management. Making this as part of their daily activities can enhance safety as well as food enjoyment throughout their lives. Planning well and joining forces together will definitely end well.

Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments of Food Allergy in Cats

Food allergy does not only affect humans but also animals. It commonly affects cats and is considered among the major causes of atopy, and flea bite allergies. Cats may develop food allergies from frequently fed types of food. Cats become sensitive with a certain food ingredient. Thus the antibodies in their intestinal tracts respond resulting to food allergy. In fact, among all types of allergies, food allergies are more prone to cats with a ten percent ratio. Food allergies can affect female, male, and neutered cats. And it is also a misconception linking specific breeds of cats to food allergies. This condition can trigger symptoms in cats as young as five months old and as mature as twelve years old. But the majority of food allergy cases in cats occur between two and six years old. Cats having food allergies also have contact with inhalant allergies. The major distinction of food intolerances from food allergies must be learned to correctly manage food allergy in cats. Food allergies are considered as true allergies showing characteristic symptoms such as itching as well as skin problems linked with canine and feline allergies. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs without creating allergic responses, then it is only food intolerances. Cat food intolerances are similar to humans getting stomach trouble or diarrhea because of eating fried or spicy foods. Both food allergies and food intolerances can be prevented by utilizing foods without offending agents. Several studies revealed that some food ingredients are the major triggers of food allergies compared to others. The most common culprits in cats are beef, dairy products, and fish. As many pet owners have observed, these are the major ingredients found in cat foods. Although some proteins are slightly more antigenic, still it comes in similar forms. Thus allergic reactions depend on the amounts of exposure. The symptoms of food allergies in cats are the same to most types of allergies. But the main symptoms are itchy skin, excessive scratching, miliary dermatitis, and hair loss. It can be difficult for pet owners to distinguish cats suffering from food allergies or atopy through physical signs. However, they must suspect of food allergy if symptoms start to manifest during the winter or all year-round and cats failed to respond to steroid and antihistamine treatments. Diagnosing food allergies in cats is very simple provided that you can recognize symptoms of the different types of allergy. Food allergy symptoms can be similar to symptoms of bacterial or yeast infections, notoedric mange, seborrhoea, and hypersensitivity to intestinal parasites. It is very important to perform food trials to cats. Provocative testing and elimination diets can be done. Feed the cat with novel foods that contain carbohydrates and proteins for twelve weeks without treats. One typical example is potato and duck, or potato and venison. These types of food are commercially available or can be made at home. Young growing cats have already special nutritional needs. Homemade diets containing one carbohydrate and one protein without fatty acids and multivitamins can be fed for twelve weeks. Food trials in kitten are done through feeding a commercially balanced diet. After twelve weeks, feed the cats with previous foods they once eat, if symptoms appear, then it is food allergy. Other perform blood testing, but it is not that accurate compared to food trials. The treatment of food allergy in cats is also simple. Feed the cats with specialized commercial diets form Purina or Hill or homemade balanced diets.