1. Managing food allergy in schools
Lindsay Brown
Allergy Nurse
Southampton Children’s Hospital

2. Allergy
… is the inappropriate & harmful response of the body’s immune system to normally harmless substances Eczema – Food Allergy – Asthma – Hayfever

3. The culprits Eggs Milk Peanuts Wasp / bee venom Tree nuts Latex Sesame
Fish
Shellfish
Soya
Wasp / bee venom
Latex
Medicines
Animals
Pollens

4. Allergic Reactions 20% of allergic reaction occur at school
Reactions can vary. They can be mild to severe (Anaphylaxis).
Reactions usually develop rapidly but can take several hours.
Reactions can be
Uni-phasic or
Bi-phasic

5. Management of food allergy in school
Parents to inform the school
Written allergy management plan
Identified by all staff
Allergen avoidance
Risk assessment
Staff educated

6. Management of an allergic reaction
Remove the allergen if possible
Treat the reaction according to the severity of the symptoms
− Antihistamines
− ADRENALINE
Appropriate aftercare

7. Signs of a mild allergic reaction
Eyes: itchy, runny, swollen
Nose: itchy, runny, congested, sneezing
Mouth: itchy or swollen lips or mouth
Skin: hives or nettle rash, itchy rash,
redness, swelling of the face
of other parts of the body.
Gut: nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting or diarrhoea

8. Management of mild allergic reactions
Treat with Antihistamine medication
The child should
Rest
NOT exercise, eat heavy meal, consume fizzy drinks
Observe the child closely for 2 hours
Mild reactions can develop into a
Severe reaction / Anaphylaxis

9. Severe allergic reaction - anaphylaxis
Airway: tightness or lump in the throat, hoarse voice, hacking cough
Breathing: short of breath, cough, unable to speak in full sentences, noisy breathing, wheezing
Conscious level: feeling faint, weakness, floppiness, sudden behaviour/mood change, irritable, persistent crying.
Deterioration: things getting worse

10. Anaphylaxis Any of these symptoms = medical emergency
Give adrenaline autoinjector
Epipen / Jext / Emerade
Call an ambulance - 999
Give second adrenaline autoinjector after 5 mins if no improvement
Stay with the child

11. Children’s Allergy Team
Southampton Children’s Hospital
Tremona Road
Southampton
Hampshire
SO16 6YD
Telephone:
Web:
For more information on the development at Southampton Children’s Hospital, please see: