Food allergies are a rising concern that affect about 8% of children in the United States.1 That statistic equates to roughly 1 in 13 children per classroom.1 It is important for you to know how to keep students with food allergies safe in your classroom to prevent a potential life-threatening reaction.
什么是食物过敏？
A food allergy occurs when the body mistakenly identifies a food as harmful and causes an immune response. Symptoms and severity of reactions in response to a food allergy will vary among children, ranging from mild to severe. Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction in which the body triggers an immune response. Strict avoidance of a food allergen is the only way to prevent a reaction. If a reaction does occur, treatment with an epinephrine auto-injector must be given promptly to reverse life-threatening symptoms.
食物过敏与食物不耐受2
As stated above, a 食物过敏 is a potentially life-threatening response to a food triggered by the body’s immune system. With a food allergy, the body is reacting to proteins present in the food. A 食物不耐受 is an adverse reaction to food that typically affects the digestive system. With a food intolerance, the body is reacting to the inability to digest sugars present in the food. Food intolerances often cause symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, or gas, and will not progress to a life-threatening reaction.
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最常见的食物过敏原
一个孩子可能对任何食物都过敏，但有8种食物占过敏反应的大部分。他们是：
- 蛋
- 牛奶
- 小麦
- 黄豆
- 花生
- 树坚果（杏仁，腰果，松子，核桃，山核桃等）
- 鱼
- 贝类（虾，龙虾，牡蛎，扇贝等）
过敏反应的迹象
There are a wide variety of symptoms that may indicate a child is having an allergic reaction. Symptoms may occur within minutes of exposure to the allergen, or up to 2 hours later.
常见症状包括：
- 口，舌，脸或喉咙肿胀
- 皮肤，耳朵，眼睛或嘴发痒
- 荨麻疹，皮疹或湿疹
- 呼吸困难;喘息咳嗽
- 拥挤，声音嘶哑
- 肚子痛
- 恶心，呕吐或腹泻
- 头晕;困惑
- 发热
Young children may communicate their symptoms in the following ways3:
- “我的舌头（或嘴巴）发麻（或灼痛）。”
- “我的舌头（或嘴巴）发痒。”
- “我的嘴好笑。”
- “我的喉咙里有些东西卡住了。”
- “我的嘴唇紧绷。”
- “感觉就像是我的耳朵里有虫子。”
Being aware of these symptoms and how they may be communicated by students can help you to respond promptly if a reaction does occur in your classroom.
Tips for Preventing Allergic Reactions in the Classroom3
- Follow school rules and practices for dealing with food allergies
- Review food rules with students and parents
- Avoid using food in classroom activities
- Use non-food items for celebrations, rewards or incentives
- Ensure a safe and supervised eating environment for students
- Enforce hand washing before and after eating
- Clean surfaces with warm soapy water or an all-purpose cleaning agent when food is served in the classroom
- Do not allow students to share food
- Work with the school nurse to identify students with allergies and their Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plans
- Identify school personnel who have been trained and permitted to administer the epinephrine auto-injector
- Work with the school nurse, parents and other school personnel to determine if classroom modifications need to be made for any students
- Inform parents and the school nurse before including food or known allergens in classroom activities
What Do I Do If a Student Has an Allergic Reaction in My Classroom?
The treatment for anaphylaxis is prompt use of an injectable medication called epinephrine.
If you suspect a student is having an allergic reaction, take immediate action. At minimum, this should include the following:
- Activate the student’s Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan and ensure prompt administration of the epinephrine auto-injector by a trained staff member. Do not leave the student unattended!
- Call 911 immediately after administering the epinephrine auto-injector
- Immediately call the school nurse and school administrator
It is important to review your school’s emergency response plan so that you know the specific actions you should take if a child has an allergic reaction in your classroom.
如有疑问，最好提供肾上腺素自动注射器并寻求医疗救助。
停用肾上腺素会增加死亡风险。
The Emotional Impact on Children with Food Allergies2
Studies have shown that having food allergies significantly affects children’s psychological well-being. Children may be scared of having a severe allergic reaction or of being a burden to others because of their allergies. They may also be the target of teasing, taunting or bullying by peers, teachers or adults. Teachers should ensure that students feel safe in their classroom, both physically and emotionally. Bullying or harassment of students with food allergies should not be tolerated and should be handled accordingly.
It is also important for students with food allergies to be able to socialize during meal and snack periods. Make sure that students do not sit alone whenever they are eating in an allergy-friendly area. This seating area should be open to any child who is eating foods free of identified allergens.
Additional Resources
For more information on food allergies in schools, check out these additional resources:
参考
- 食物过敏。 CDC卫生学校网站。 https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/foodallergies/index.htm#:~:text=Food%20allergies%20are%20a%20growing,children%20in%20the%20United%20States.&text=That’s%201%20in%2013%20children,immune%20response%20to%20certain%20foods。于2020年6月8日更新。于2020年12月21日访问。
- 在学校应对威胁生命的过敏症。 John C. Stalker食品与营养研究所网站。 https://johnstalkerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Mng-Allergies.pdf。 2016年5月发布。于2020年12月21日访问。
- 管理学校的食物过敏：学校教师和教育者的角色。 CDC健康学校网站。 https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/foodallergies/pdf/teachers_508_tagged.pdf。于2020年12月21日访问。
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