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September
2011
Food
allergies in children are becoming more prevalent. According to
a recent study by Northwestern University, eight percent of all
children have a food allergy. And 38.7 percent of those have a
history of severe allergic reactions. For children in this
group, that can mean anaphylactic shock--a whole-body,
life-threatening medical condition.
This public health problem has caused the Texas state
legislature to act. As you know, they have passed
HB 639, requiring all school
districts to have in place by the end of this year policies
designed to keep children who are at risk for anaphylaxis safe
on campus.
But knowing how to protect children at risk and how to establish
policies that guide school staff can be challenging. And any new
set of policies can generate a wide range of responses from your
school’s staff, students, parents, and stakeholders.
To assist you as you discuss how district policies can best
protect your students,
Thomas Smith, M.D., a
board-certified
allergist and pediatrician at
The Austin Diagnostic Clinic (ADC), is available to help. He can
meet with staff, concerned parents, or to be involved in
educational awareness sessions about food allergies. In
particular, he can help you as you work to ensure that students
with food allergies and school personnel are ready to identify
and handle an anaphylactic reaction. To protect children from
the most severe consequences of food allergies, parents,
students, and teachers need to know how to recognize and treat
anaphylaxis. At-risk children, for instance, should always carry
auto-injectable epinephrine (which go by brand names such as
EpiPen®
and TwinJect™)
and have an anaphylaxis action plan on file with all schools and
caregivers.
If you would like to meet with Dr. Smith or would like more
information, please call (512) 901-4414, or send an email to
scarnelly@adclinic.com. As a
member of
Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACEs), a nationwide
educational outreach program, there is no charge for Dr. Smith’s
consultation with your school.
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