Managing Your Child S Food Allergies

For children with food allergies, eating—one of the basic functions of life—can be a nightmare. Children who suffer or become dangerously ill after eating peanuts, seafood, milk, eggs, wheat, or a host of other foods require constant vigilance from caring, concerned parents, teachers, and friends. In this empathetic and comprehensive guide, Dr. Scott H. Sicherer, a specialist in pediatric food allergies, gives parents the information they need to manage their children’s health and quality of life. He describes why children develop food allergy, the symptoms of food allergy (affecting the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and the respiratory system), and the role of food allergy in behavioral problems and developmental disabilities. Parents will learn how to recognize emergency situations, how to get the most out of a visit with an allergist, what allergy test results mean, and how to protect their children—at home, at school, at summer camp, and in restaurants. Informative, compassionate, and practical, this guide will be indispensable for parents, physicians, school nurses, teachers, and everyone else who cares for children with food allergies.

Practical tips to manage your child's food allergies.

The most complete guide to preventing, testing, living with, and treating food allergies in children and adults. In this comprehensive, evidence-based guide for adults and children with food allergies and those who care for them, Dr. Scott H. Sicherer provides all the critical information you need on preventing, testing, living with, and treating food allergies. Organized in an accessible Q&A format and illustrated with case studies, the book thoroughly explains how to prevent exposure to a known allergen at home, at work, at school, in restaurants, and elsewhere. Emphasizing the most recent advances, Sicherer touches on everything from handling an anaphylactic emergency to diagnosing allergies and intolerances, all while detailing chronic health problems caused by food, such as eczema, hives, and gastrointestinal symptoms. He also shares: • the benefits and risks of new therapies • new prevention guidelines • new approaches to improve quality of life and reduce anxiety • the latest insights on adult-onset food allergies • new diagnostic tests now commercially available • approaches shown to increase safety in school • the latest thinking on treating eczema through the diet • new doses and self-injection devices for treating food anaphylaxis • new information about food allergies that affect the gut Dr. Sicherer also reviews food reactions that are not allergic, such as lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, and celiac disease. He explains how to get adequate nutrition when you must avoid dietary staples and discusses whether allergies ever go away (they do—and sometimes they return). Finally, he includes an allergy and anaphylaxis emergency plan and checklists to reduce cross-contamination. This is the most authoritative and accessible allergy book on the market.

Everything you need to know to look after kids with food allergy Managing food allergy is vital for the safety of kids in your care. The best defence against a serious allergic reaction is knowledge, and this book provides you with everything you need to know, from prevention and diagnosis through to caring for kids at home, school or away on holidays. Look after your child in your home and on the go — organise your home and make travel plans that cater for your child's needs Provide a safe environment at school or the childcare centre — set up your school or centre to manage allergies with confidence Prepare your child to take responsibility for a food allergy — ensure your child knows about problem foods Know when allergic reactions are serious — be prepared to treat and manage anaphylaxis Get to grips with the difference between types of food allergy — identify immediate and delayed food allergies Understand why allergy rates are on the rise — access the latest research on what causes allergies, and how to avoid them Prepare for allergy testing — learn how your child is tested and how you can get involved Look into future treatments — get a grasp on new allergy treatments and possible cures Open the book and find: Clear instructions for using EpiPens and Anapens Simple explanations about different types of food allergy Information about how to recognise and treat allergic reactions Sample emergency action plans The latest research on finding a cure for food allergy Key lessons to teach children with food allergy Suggestions for food replacements Websites to access further support Learn to: Keep the home, classroom and childcare centre safe Show others how to care for kids with food allergy Educate kids about helping their friends and themselves

The essential guide for anyone who suffers from food allergies. Posing the urgent questions that anyone with food allergies will think to ask—and then some—Food Allergies provides practical, sensitive, and scientific guidance on the topics that affect your life. Allergy expert Scott H. Sicherer addresses the full spectrum of food allergies, from mild to life threatening and from single foods to food families, clearing up misconceptions along the way. He explores how exposure to foods can bring about an allergic response, describes the symptoms of food allergy, and illuminates how food allergies develop. Organized in an accessible Q&A format and illustrated with case studies, the book thoroughly explains how to prevent exposure to a known allergen at home, at school, in restaurants, and elsewhere. Dr. Sicherer also gives valuable advice about what to do if exposure occurs, including how to handle an anaphylactic emergency. Finally, he describes tests for diagnosing food allergies and chronic health problems caused by food allergies, such as eczema, hives, and respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. In this thoroughly updated new edition, Dr. Sicherer • describes new approaches to prevent food allergies • presents cutting-edge theories on risk factors for developing food allergies • describes innovative allergy tests to improve diagnosis • explains how to administer emergency medications for severe reactions • focuses on new allergens of concern, such as pink peppercorns • analyzes studies suggesting that resolution of an allergy might be predictable • talks about the role of "healthy diet" • lists additional resources, including allergy-related apps • provides revised school food allergy guidelines • offers insights into food allergy bullying—and advice to reduce it Dr. Sicherer also reviews food reactions that are not allergic (such as lactose intolerance and celiac disease), advises how to get adequate nutrition when you must avoid dietary staples, and discusses whether allergies ever go away (they do—and sometimes they return).

All the answers parents need. Keeping kids safe takes vigilance. But when your child has food allergies, the challenge is greater and you worry that much more. As a food-allergy mom (and someone seriously allergic herself), author Mireille Schwartz has been through it all. Now, in this clear, reassuring guide she helps you get a handle on food allergies, establish new routines, and restore peace and order to family life. You'll learn to: Spot the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction * Navigate testing and diagnosis * Decipher ingredient labels, keeping an eye out for "hidden" allergens * Allergy-proof your whole home-not just the kitchen * Create an emergency kit and an allergy action plan * Make school a safe and enjoyable environment * Find lunchbox substitutions your kid will like * Deal with restaurants, playdates, birthday parties, holidays, and other group celebrations * Plan for safe travels- from summer camp to family getaways * And more From protecting your child to teaching them to take care of themselves, When Your Child Has Food Allergies covers it all so your life can get back to normal.

The only Australian book to address a growing phenomenon: children's food allergies and how to deal with them Food allergy occurs in around 1 in 20 children, with symptoms involving the skin, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system. While the majority of allergic reactions are not severe, anaphylaxis - the most serious and potentially life-threatening form of allergic reaction - is no longer rare. Living with a child with food allergies can mean constant trips to doctors and specialists; painstaking preparation of foods to ensure no contamination occurs; battles with friends and family members who don't understand the potential seriousness of an allergy; confusion over food labelling; concern about how to give your child a balanced diet while excluding allergenic foods; and anxiety when leaving your child in the care of others - to name only some of the issues. As the parent of a child with multiple food allergies, Alison Orman understands the challenges. In this accessible book she explains what food allergies are, and gives sensible, practical advice on how to live with, and manage them. With the help of Dr Preeti Joshi (Paediatrician in Allergy and Immunology at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney), she helps parents navigate common problems and work out long-term solutions to keep their child happy, healthy and well-fed. An indispensable book for any Australian parent who has struggled to care for their food-allergic child.

Written by a mother of two children with multiple food allergies and intolerances, this book will enable you to manage your child's food allergies with confidence. Clear and concise, The Busy Parent's Guide to Food Allergies is brimming with practical advice covering topics such as:- symptoms of food allergy in babies and children- getting a diagnosis and dealing with health professionals- breastfeeding, bottle feeding and weaning- shopping and reading food labels- cooking at home- eating out- travelling abroad- childcare and school- family and friends- reintroducing your child's allergen- current areas of scientific research- the teenage years- going to university- food allergy myth busting- emotional impact of food allergiesAs a parent of a child with food allergies, this book will show you how to strike a balance between keeping your child safe and well, and ensuring they still have the same normal childhood experiences as their peers. This book is relevant whether your child has immediate or delayed reactions, and whether their allergies are mild or severe. It can take time to get a diagnosis and learn how to manage food allergies, and this book is designed to support you through that process. Grounded in the latest research, The Busy's Parent's Guide to Food Allergies is easy to read, and explains medical terms in plain English.