LIKE
Friday March 29, 2024


Click the logos
for news and info
about these companies

Non-Profits & Special Events








Products & Services










Banking & Finance




Construction &
Real Estate






Travel & Tourism








Public Affairs











Top Headlines

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2004

Contact:
Kristy Dillingham
(207) 774-5801
E-mail: beryl@wolfenews.com

Beryl Wolfe
(207) 883-6083

Web Site: http://www.martinspoint.org

Food Allergies are Nothing to Sneeze at - Seriously

By Cathra Chappelle, M.D.

More than 6 million Americans have a food allergy, many of them children. Better education and awareness about how to prevent or manage these allergic reactions is the key to keeping food-allergic individuals safe.

Food allergy support groups like the one we have at Martin's Point Health Care in our Portland facility - the only group of its kind in Maine - meets quarterly to discuss and learn more about this troubling condition. The group is designed for people who either have the condition or are related to someone who experiences a reaction to food. Parents of children with allergies benefit greatly from our group. For more info on this group, call the Martin's Point Health Education Center at 828-2497 or 1-800-260-6681.

Statistics show that between 150 and 200 people die each year because of severe allergic reactions to food. Anaphylactic shock can occur within minutes of exposure to a food allergen. Symptoms, which can come on suddenly and can last a few minutes to several hours, include feeling faint, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, nausea, hives and swelling of the lip, tongue or throat.

Someone who suffers a severe allergic reaction needs emergency medical attention. If you or someone you know experiences such a reaction, call 911 immediately. When vital organs cannot function properly, the body goes into shock. This is a life-threatening situation that must be dealt with quickly.

In infants and children, the American Academy of Pediatrics has put out recommendations for introduction of food to children from allergic families. The brochure, entitled "Preventing or Delaying the Onset of Food Allergies in Infants," is available online by going to the website of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) at www.foodallergy.org.

According to the report, studies show infants with a family history of allergy may be two to four times more likely to develop an allergy. It also says that milk, egg and soy are the most frequent causes of food allergy in infants but that peanut allergies appear to be on the rise as parents introduce peanut butter too early in a child's life. As the baby grows and begins to eat regular foods, other food allergies may develop. According to the report, eight foods account for 90 percent of all food allergic reactions, including peanuts, tree nuts such as walnuts, pecans, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, soy and wheat. However, any food can cause a reaction. The report goes on to give tips for preventing allergies in infants and children.

The FAAN website at www.foodallergy.org also has a question and answer section, and valuable links for parents and others. In addition, the organization has created two kids sections, one for kids and one for teens, which can be accessed directly at www.fankids.org. The colorful site features information, news and questions and answers geared toward children on how to manage food allergies.

FAAN is a national organization made up of families, dietitians, nurses, physicians, school staff, representatives from government agencies, and the food and pharmaceutical industries. Their website is a must for anyone who has a food allergy or suspects someone they know has one.

In addition to wearing an alert bracelet, people who have had anaphylaxis in the past are often prescribed a self-treat kit that contains oral Benadryl and injectable Epinephrine to help reverse the allergic reaction until emergency care can be provided.

But the best way to prevent a severe allergic reaction is to find out through testing which substance causes a reaction and avoid that food, chemical, drug or other substance. Your primary care doctor can refer you to an allergy specialist and they will either take a blood test or do skin tests to determine the exact allergy. Once it is known which substances are causing a reaction, a plan can be developed to prevent exposure.

Once diagnosed with an allergy, there are a number of options that the specialist and your doctor will advise.

Sometimes use of oral agents such as antihistamines, inhaled corticosteroid and other medications can moderate a patient's response to allergies. Patients should work out a plan with their doctor so they can react immediately in case of an anaphylactic reaction.

Another option is immunotherapy, which involves gradually exposing the immune system to the toxic substance to make it less harmful. Immunotherapy is very effective for insect allergies, however, is not good for food or drug allergies.

In addition to the food allergy support group, the Martin's Point Health Education Center offers a variety of resource materials, such as publications and videos, and classes that focus on a host of other topics, ranging from weight management and smoking cessation to disease management.

********************************************

Cathra Chappelle, M.D., is a physician at Martin's Point Health Care, a comprehensive primary care practice group with centers in Portland, Brunswick and Windham, Maine, and in Portsmouth, N.H. She has a special interest in preventative medicine and obstetrics.



NOTE: Wolfe News Wire is an online source for news and information about noteworthy companies and organizations. We invite you to share this content and/or leave a comment. Background info and past news items from a specific organization can be found by clicking the side logos. For more info, please email info@wolfenews.com. Thank you!



Terms of Use and Privacy Policy




©2015 Wolfe Public Relations. All Rights Reserved.