Managing food allergy in schools

Lindsay BrownAllergy Nurse

Southampton Children’s Hospital

Allergy

… is the inappropriate & harmful response of the body’s immune system to normally harmless substances

Eczema – Food Allergy – Asthma – Hayfever

The culprits

• Eggs • Milk • Peanuts• Tree nuts• Sesame• Fish• Shellfish• Soya

• Wasp / bee venom• Latex• Medicines• Animals• Pollens

Allergic Reactions• 20% of allergic reaction occur at school• Reactions can vary. They can be mild to

severe (Anaphylaxis).• Reactions usually develop rapidly but can

take several hours.• Reactions can be

–Uni-phasic or–Bi-phasic

Management of food allergy in school• Parents to inform the school• Written allergy management plan• Identified by all staff• Allergen avoidance• Risk assessment• Staff educated

Management of an allergic reaction

• Remove the allergen if possible• Treat the reaction according to the

severity of the symptoms

− Antihistamines

− ADRENALINE• Appropriate aftercare

Signs of a mild allergic reaction• Eyes:itchy, runny, swollen• Nose: itchy, runny, congested, sneezing• Mouth: itchy or swollen lips or mouth • Skin: hives or nettle rash, itchy rash,

redness, swelling of the face

of other parts of the body.• Gut: nausea, stomach cramps,

vomiting or diarrhoea

Management of mild allergic reactions Treat with Antihistamine medication

The child should

Rest

NOT exercise, eat heavy meal, consume fizzy drinks

Observe the child closely for 2 hours

Mild reactions can develop into aSevere reaction / Anaphylaxis

Severe allergic reaction - anaphylaxis

Airway: tightness or lump in the throat, hoarse voice, hacking cough

Breathing: short of breath, cough, unable to speak in full sentences, noisy

breathing, wheezing

Conscious level: feeling faint, weakness, floppiness, sudden behaviour/mood

change, irritable, persistent crying.

Deterioration: things getting worse

Anaphylaxis

Any of these symptoms = medical emergency

Give adrenaline autoinjectorEpipen / Jext / Emerade

Call an ambulance - 999Give second adrenaline autoinjector after 5

mins if no improvementStay with the child

Children’s Allergy TeamSouthampton Children’s Hospital

Tremona Road

Southampton

Hampshire

SO16 6YD

Telephone: 023 8077 7222

Web: www.uhs.nhs.uk/childhealth

For more information on the development at Southampton Children’s Hospital, please see: www.childrenshospital.uhs.nhs.uk