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Living with a food allergy, either minor or severe is not easy. It requires a person who has one to always be wary of what they eat and to always be positive of the ingredients in dishes at restaurants or else run the risk of having an anaphylactic reaction. The symptoms of these reactions include a light red rash after eating a food one is allergic to, in the less severe cases; to death, in the more severe cases; however, some people don’t even have to eat certain foods to have an allergic reaction, sometimes all they have to do is touch them to trigger an allergic reaction.
One of the most common types of foods that cause an allergic reaction is peanuts. This allergy is often developed in infants, so it usually isn’t noticed until the child is younger and has their first allergic reaction. Once it is known of though, children and parents will have to be careful of the food the child eats, especially in a restaurant, since peanut products are very common cooking ingredients. As a parent, you will also have to make it a point to inform teachers and the school nurse of your child condition so that they can be prepared in case a problem arise. Often when an allergic reaction occurs there is only a limited amount of time for a child to receive an anaphylactic shot before their airway closes up and they begin to suffocate.
Other food allergies include eggs, wheat and shellfish. Again, the same set of conditions described above applies. You will want to make sure your child knows to stay away from food products such as bread and cereals, even some kinds of candy, (in regards to wheat).
The upside to these allergies is that in the case of most of them, except for peanuts, they can be outgrown. The symptoms usually disappear after several years and completely vanish once the child has fully matured. However, always check with a physician before deciding to eat food you may have been allergic to as a child.
While medical technology has greatly advanced in our society, accidents still happen and children and adults still die from allergic reactions. If you have a child who has a food allergy, especially to peanuts, it can’t be stressed enough just how important it is to remind them to be cautious daily, as well as make sure they know what to do and where to go immediately if they start having an allergic reaction.
To be exceptionally safe it is always best to institute a rule in your home in which the food that triggers the allergic reaction is not allowed to come in. This ensures maximum safety for your children or yourself. In addition, it helps the child to not feel left out and be reminded of their allergy if they have to watch others eating an item they can’t have any part of. Consider it a way to provide them support.
By: Joe Goertz -
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