Community Magazine December 2009

File #1255: Food Allergies 101 The Shaatra Files (shõ•trä) n . An outstanding homemaker [Arabic] LINDA FRANCO W hen faced with a diagnosed allergy, many parents are first overwhelmed, but then, with a bit of research, some creative thinking and positive energy, realize that many – fill in the blank: nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, etc. – diets can be accommodated. Still scratching your head? Help is right here. Reacting to Allergies A food allergy is a potentially life-threat- ening allergic reaction by an individual’s immune system to a certain type of food or food component. Children experience food allergies more commonly than adults. Symptoms can be triggered through eating, touching or even just being in close proxim- ity to the allergen. Cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts and tree nuts top the list as the most highly allergic foods. To test for allergies, introduce new foods one at a time, and always feed in the morn- ing, so you have the whole day to monitor your child or deal with symptoms. Symptoms can include rashes, shortness of breath, or anything unusual. Don’t be your own doctor. Call your doctor as soon as you can to see if your child has an allergy. One mother gave her son Benadryl thinking her son had hives... until his eyes swelled shut. Severe allergic reactions can be life- threatening, and a symptomatic child needs treatment STAT! Sensitivity Training On the other hand, don’t be overwhelmed. Allergies can be managed. Doctors usually use blood and scratch tests to determine what allergies your child may have. But if you feel the results are inaccurate or don’t make sense, advocate for further testing. It’s also crucial to keep a food diary detailing the child’s diet and symptoms. This can help you and your doctor key-in on the problem foods and be sure you are treating the correct food allergy, while not over-restricting. One mother I know was told her son had wheat allergies. But after avoiding wheat, the symptoms increased. It turned out that her son was allergic to soy and potatoes, which she had been using as substitutes for wheat. Her food diary and further testing helped her doctor determine this. Spread the Word Allergies shouldn’t be a secret. Reaching out to others and getting the correct infor- mation makes life easier. In a family with lots of allergic members, don’t assume any kid has allergies just because their siblings do. Everyone is different. For more serious cases, a doctor may recommend epi-pen, an injection that treats Anaphylactic shock for very serious allergic reactions. If one has been proscribed for your child, carry it with you always and constantly check the expiration dates. Keep a few on hand in central locations and every- one at home and in school should know where they are. Have care givers and older siblings practice with expired epi-pens in a squash (which resembles the child’s thigh). Care-givers, teachers and any adults around your child must be given clear emergency instructions and lists of food allergies. Give teachers a stash of approved foods if other children in the class will be eating. Allergies can present complicated hala- chic issues. Though your friends may have opinions about the halachot regarding aller- gies, meds and treatments, get the straight dope from the right source – your rabbi. Establish healthy communication with your child about any necessary treatment or meds on Shabbat and holidays. What Can We Do? The adults in a child’s life can make a tremendous difference with just a few pre- ventative measures and sensitivity. Did you know that if you eat nuts, and kiss a child with nut allergies, they can suffer? Small children won’t tell you this, so please be careful when kissing them or pinching their cheeks. Keep one or two allergy-free snacks for kids who might have allergies when hav- ing the brood over. Though allergies must be taken very seriously by parents and adults, don’t treat kids with allergies any differently. They don’t want to stand out. So don’t make it a big deal if a child is eating an allergy free alternative to what everyone else is having. Be informed and ask the parents what you need to know. To stay on the safe side when handing out party favors for the kids, pack goody bags with food-free prizes. In a “nutshell,” we can all help children with food allergies lead a very normal life. As parents, our upbeat attitude will help our children develop a positive outlook. As a community, our sensitivity and discretion in snacks we send to school and camp can save much distress. Together, we can help make life with allergies very easy and livable. FURTHER RESOURCES The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America: Comprehensive information, support groups and resources for beginners and seasoned pros. www.aafa.org • 800-7-ASTHMA • info@aafa.org The Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine: Runs clinical trials (212)-241-5548 • www.mountsinai.org READER TIPS A lmost any kosher allergy replacement food can be purchased at your local health food store: egg replacers, soy nut butter (instead of peanut), rice milk, soy milk, almond milk, and gluten free or spelt products are now widely available. R. M F or a great kosher, allergy free cookbook, try Simply Tempting (simplytempting.com ). L. F. B e careful at occasions. A knife that cut through a cake made with nuts and then used for another, non-allergic cake, will carry the same food allergies. R. R. Send your tips for next month’s subject : DATING YOUR HUSBAND to: shaatra@community m .com 52 Community magazine