Chances are that jelly and peanut butter was your favorite lunch for school as a child. However, with that, you may also be wondering why a big number of schools have banned peanuts? This is primarily due to the fact that a big number of children nowadays suffer from food allergies. Everybody happens to have a different reaction to such food allergens, and to varying extent. However, it is always good to talk to an allergy physician in case your child exhibits symptoms of allergy to any particular food product.

In the United States, reports of peanut allergy among children has tripled in between 1997 and 2008. Today, more than 32 million Americans suffer from food allergies. Among these, about six million people are kids. As a result of this, you could find two children in every classroom that have a food allergy.

Hidden dangers of food allergies

Allergic reactions are the response of the body’s immunity that attacks a harmless protein, which is known as allergen. Among the most commonly known food allergens, peanut is one. Furthermore, more than 170 different food items are known to result in allergic reactions. Among these, eggs, milk, wheat, shellfish, fish, soy, and chocolate are very common.

A big number of people are also showing signs of allergy to sesame now. It is important to remember that allergies need to be taken seriously, primarily due to the fact that they can be deadly. Adults and children both can have very severe reactions to different types of foods.

Just imagine that a single stray drop coming from milk may make your child very sick. So, avoiding such sources of foods which may trigger an allergic reaction in children is a source of constant stress for parents.

What can you do to keep your children away from food allergens?

In this article, we put together a few easy tips that you can rely on to keep your children away from food allergens. These include:

Practice respect

A big number of TV shows and movies refer to food allergies in a laughing manner. However, it is important for you to realize that there is nothing funny about that. A single allergic reaction to a food can send your child to an emergency room.

Wash hands after snacks and meals

It is important to teach your children to wash their hand after eating. Moreover, you should yourself practice the same! This way, you will reduce the risk of your child getting in contact with any allergens. Though, it is important to note that sanitizers that are based on alcohol are not very effective when it comes to the removal of allergens. In this regard, water and soap are considered to be the best combination.

Learn how to save

You may have heard about anaphylaxis, which is a complex and severe allergic reaction that can interfere with the blood flow and breathing. Epinephrine is very commonly used for its treatment. As a result of this, a big number of public venues and schools now make use of epinephrine injectors which are very easy to use devices. These devices can save a life and can prevent a person from going to the emergency room.

Conclusion

In case your child has a food allergy, or any allergy at all, it is important to make sure that he/she does not come in contact with the allergens. In case you see symptoms, reach out to an allergist specialist Manassas right away rather than delaying it. Furthermore, know as much as you can about allergies so that you can take the right steps in case of an emergency.