Allergies
Allergic Reactions in School
Does your child have allergies? What is he or she allergic to?
What kind of reaction happens?
What medications do you give? What else should the nurse know to help you keep
your child most safe?
Food allergies may affect up to 6% of school
aged children. Reactions can range from rashes, vomiting, breathing problems to
loss of consciousness. If your child has a food allergy, it is extremely
important that the school nurse know the answers to the questions above. He or
she can help the school set up a program to make sure that your child avoids the
offending food(s).
Two related web sites are: The Food Allergy
Network and Food Allergy News for Kids and
Teens.
Insect allergies can present an emergency
situation. If your child has an allergy to insect stings, the nurse will make
a plan with you to ensure a safe environment for your child. A related web
site: American College of Asthma,
Allergy and Immunology.
Seasonal allergies may mean rashes, runny
noses, sneezing or breathing problems. Minor or major problems; make sure your
school nurse knows the answers to the questions at the top of the page. View a
related article from the
Food and Drug Administration.
Information about Allergies
Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in America with an
annual cost exceeding $18 billion. Allergies are believed to complicate and even
handicap the lives of nearly 50 million children and adults.
Long regarded as trivial, and traditionally managed through self-medication
and indifference, patients and physicians are now beginning to realize that
allergies are serious disorders that may demand advice from a physician.
Furthermore, self-medicating, over-the-counter treatments may prove ineffective,
and at times harmful, when addressing allergic disorders.
What are Allergies?
Allergies reflect an overreaction of the immune system to substances that
usually cause no reaction in most individuals. These substances can trigger
sneezing, wheezing, coughing and itching. Allergies are not only bothersome, but
many have been linked to a variety of common and serious chronic respiratory
illnesses (such as sinusitis and asthma). Additionally, allergic reactions can
be severe and even fatal. However, with proper management and patient education,
allergic diseases can be controlled, and people with allergies can lead normal
and productive lives.
Symptoms of
Allergies
Itching, tingling sensation & swelling
of lips, tongue or mouth
Throat: Itching and/or feeling of tightness
in throat, hoarseness, hacking cough
Skin: Redness,
Hives, itchy rash, and/or swelling of
face or extremities
Gut:
Nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
Lungs: Shortness of breath, repetitive
cough and/or wheezing, hoarse voice
Heart: Rapid, weak pulse, low blood pressure, passing out
*Underlined
symptoms can progress to a life-threatening situation*
Common Allergic Diseases
The most common allergic diseases are:
- Allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Characterized by nasal stuffiness,
sneezing, nasal itching, clear nasal discharge, and itching of the roof of
the mouth and/or ears.
- Allergic asthma: Characterized by airway obstruction that is at
least partially reversible with medication and is always associated with
allergy. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid
breathing, chest tightness, and occasional fatigue and slight chest pain.
- Allergic Conjunctivitis: Characterized by inflammation of the
eyes; it is the most common form of allergic eye disease. Symptoms can
include itchy and watery eyes and lid distress. Allergic conjunctivitis is
also commonly associated with the presence of other allergic diseases such
as atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma.
- Urticaria (hives): A reaction of the skin, or a skin condition
commonly known as hives. Characterized by the development of itchy, raised
white bumps on the skin surrounded by an area of red inflammation. Acute
urticaria is often caused by an allergy to foods or medication.
- Atopic Dermatitis (eczema): A chronic or recurrent inflammatory
skin disease characterized by lesions, scaling and flaking; it is sometimes
called eczema. In children, it may be aggravated by an allergy or irritant
- Contact Dermatitis: Characterized by skin inflammation; this is
the most common occupational disease representing up to 40 percent of all
occupational illnesses. Contact dermatitis is one of the most common skin
diseases in adults. It results from the direct contact with an outside
substance with the skin. There are currently about 3,000 known contact
allergens.
- Sinusitis: Characterized by an inflammation of the sinuses, it
frequently mimics the common cold. The symptoms of sinusitis persist for a
longer period of time than a typical cold. Fever may develop or persist.
Symptoms of sinusitis include frontal head discomfort, facial pain that
often worsens when patients are bending or straining, and yellow or green
nasal discharge.
- Otitis Media (middle ear infection): Characterized by
inflammation of the middle ear and eardrum. A middle ear infection is the
most common childhood disease requiring physician care. As many as half of
children over three years of age with chronic otitis media have confirmed
allergic rhinitis.
- Food Allergy: Most prevalent in very young children and
frequently outgrown, food allergies are characterized by a broad range of
allergic reactions. Symptoms may include itching or swelling of lips or
tongue; tightness of the throat with hoarseness; nausea and vomiting;
diarrhea; occasionally chest tightness and wheezing; itching of the eyes;
decreased blood pressure or loss of consciousness and anaphylaxis.
- Latex Allergy: An allergic response to the proteins in natural,
latex rubber characterized by a range of allergic reactions. Persons at risk
include healthcare workers, patients having multiple surgeries and
rubber-industry workers. Symptoms include hand dermatitis, eczema and
urticaria; sneezing and other respiratory distress; and lower respiratory
problems including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
- Insect Sting Allergy: Characterized by a variety of allergic
reactions; stings cannot always be avoided and can happen to anyone.
Symptoms include pain, itching and swelling at the sting site or over a
larger area and can cause anaphylaxis. Insects that sting include bees,
hornets, wasps, yellow jackets, and fire and harvest ants.
- Drug Allergy: Characterized by a variety of allergic responses
affecting any tissue or organ. Drug allergies can cause anaphylaxis; even
those patients who do not have life-threatening symptoms initially may
progress to a life-threatening reaction.
- Anaphylaxis: Characterized by life-threatening symptoms. This is
a medical emergency and the most severe form of allergic reaction. Symptoms
include a sense of impending doom; generalized warmth or flush; tingling of
palms, soles of feet or lips; light-headedness; bloating and chest
tightness. These can progress into seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, shock and
respiratory distress. Possible causes can be medications, vaccines, food,
latex, and insect stings and bites.
Managing your child's Allergies
- Inform
the school nurse of any allergies your child has.
- The
nurse and you will develop a special plan of care for your child during school hours
- Consult
your health care provider regarding emergency medications and special plans to care for
your child
- Provide
the school health office with information and any medications that your child needs.
Return to top
Back to Clinic Homepage