Increase Your School’s Food Allergy Awareness
May 11, 2009 - Food Allergy Awareness Week is May 10-16, a time to focus public awareness on this growing health problem. Along with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is encouraging all Americans to help those affected by this life-limiting condition. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the number of young people diagnosed with food allergy increased by 18 percent during the past decade, confirming anecdotal impressions of many physicians, school nurses and parents. According to the CDC, almost 4 percent of adults and 5 percent of children under the age of six are affected by food allergy. This statistic adds to the sense of urgency to help those with food allergies and those who are at risk for anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening whole-body allergic reaction.
Allergic reactions to food can range from mild, causing itchy hives, for example, to severe, in which anaphylaxis can occur. Currently, the only way to prevent food-induced allergic reactions is by strict allergen avoidance, adding to the stresses felt by allergic individuals and their families. Even with strict avoidance, families fear accidental exposure that could trigger a severe allergic reaction. Although prompt treatment can usually alleviate the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such treatment is not always effective. Thus, there is a tremendous need for researching strategies that could prevent the development of food allergy and for improved diagnosis and management of the condition.
NIAID is supporting research to improve the understanding of food allergy and improve its prevention, diagnosis and management. In addition, NIAID is working with more than 30 professional organizations, federal agencies and patient advocacy groups to develop clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food allergy. These guidelines are expected to be ready in 2010. The National School Boards Association, in collaboration with the CDC and FAAN, is currently developing guidelines for addressing food allergies in the school setting.
To learn more about some of these initiatives and obtain more information on food allergies, please click here. And if you would like to learn more about managing food allergies in schools, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the School Nutrition Foundation are offering a 3-part webinar series on the issue. The first webinar, which focused on understanding the fundamentals of food allergies, was broadcast on April 29, but is available for viewing online. The second webinar, which will discuss ways to develop policy, will be broadcast on May 27, and the third webinar, which will present ideas for implementing policy, will be on June 3. These sessions are free and open to the public. To register, click here.
Source: Joint Statement of Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., and Daniel Rotrosen M.D. on Food Allergy Awareness Week, NIH Press Release, May 11, 2009.