A new
set of guidelines recently released by the Centers of Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) now specifically outlines the roles pediatricians play in
managing food allergies in schools. Dr. Scott H. Sicherer, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on
Allergy and Immunology Executive Committee, says the guidelines necessitate
close cooperation among pediatricians, school officials, and parents.
Considering the current statistics on food allergies among children in the
U.S., the CDC certainly has a lot of reason to take action:
"Food allergy is estimated to affect up to 8% of U.S. children
and appears to be increasing in prevalence. Studies show that almost 20% of
children with food allergies have a reaction while at school, and 25% of
anaphylactic reactions in schools occur in children with no prior diagnosis."
For kids and their parents, the CDC guidelines also provide more reasons
to visit a friendly pediatricianin Littleton, like someone from Focus on Kids Pediatrics. After all, the
things that trigger allergic reactions among kids—like milk, peanuts, and eggs—often
find their way into cafeteria food. Yet while children can bring their own
packed lunches to school, they may also unknowingly be exposed to a common allergen:
wheat.
As the country’s most widely-consumed grain, wheat is also present in a
lot of things the average American child may consume within a single day. An
allergic reaction to wheat usually comes within a few minutes to an hour after
exposure. Symptoms may manifest in the skin (i.e. hives, itching), digestive
(i.e. nausea, diarrhea), respiratory (i.e. wheezing, shortness of breath), or
cardiovascular (i.e. dizziness) system.
Considering that these symptoms resemble other ailments like gluten
intolerance, a pediatrician would have to be consulted for confirmation. Wheat
allergies stem from an overreaction of the immune system, while gluten
intolerance or celiac disease is
gastroenterological in nature. As such, the two conditions need to be
identified as accurately as possible.
That said, food allergies aren’t the only thing a respected Littleton pediatrician
should worry about. Spring in Colorado also coincides with an increase in
airborne pollen, specifically from St. John’s Worts and sugarberries, which can
cause allergies of a different kind. Consequently, pediatricians throughout the
country are quick to urge kids and their parents to take heed of air quality
alerts.
(Source: New guidelines outline pediatrician’s role in managing food allergies in
schools, AAP News, May 27, 2014)
