We have been caring for Kenosha’s children since 1991. We take caring for our children very seriously. This includes being aware of the special needs any of our students may have. We have seen a climb in the percentage of children who have allergies. We make sure that all food allergies are addressed and that our snacks & lunches do not include any foods that may cause an allergic reaction with any of our students.
Reality Alert
According to The American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology, fifty five percent of the United States’ population tests positive for one or more allergens. Food allergies, in particular, are on the rise; in 2008, only 1 in 25 children had a food allergy, now it is 1 in 13. This means about two kids in every classroom has a food allergy. These allergies can be life threatening and require parents and teachers to work together to keep kids safe.
What is an Allergy?
An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a normally harmless substance, like a food protein or pet dander. The immune system reacts as if the allergen is a harmful substance and attacks the body. Then, it kicks into high gear and tries to destroy the allergen, even though, in reality, it’s harmless.
What is an Intolerance?
An allergy is not the same as an intolerance. An allergy involves the immune system and can be life threatening. An intolerance occurs when the body cannot digest a certain protein. An intolerance can cause nausea, cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea and can be extremely painful. For example, many people are lactose intolerant, which means their bodies do not process the protein lactose that exists in dairy products. These people, however, are not allergic to dairy products.
Common Allergens in Childcare
Almost anything can cause an allergic reaction. There have been reported allergies to sweat, water, shoes, and the sun, for example. Below are some of the most common allergens in a childcare setting.
The Most Common Food Allergies
Eight different foods account for 90% of food allergies:
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios, Brazil nuts)
- Milk
- Eggs
- Wheat
- Soy (widely used in processed food products)
- Fish (salmon, tuna, halibut)
- Shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, oysters, scallops)
All of these foods are required by law to be included on the labels of packaged food products sold in the USA by the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act.
Insect Stings
While most people develop redness, swelling, and itching after an insect sting, others have a serious allergic reaction. Yellow jackets, honeybees, paper wasps, hornets, and fire ants are some of the insects that can cause an allergic reaction.
Animals
Some people have allergic reactions to proteins found in animals’ skin cells, saliva, or urine. People are most likely to be allergic to cats, dogs, rodents, or horses. Kiddie Kare does not include pets in their classrooms.
Allergic Reactions
Other common allergens include medications, latex, mold, and pollen.
It’s extremely important to be able to recognize allergic reactions. Time is of the essence when someone is having a severe allergic reaction.
Mild vs Severe Allergic Reactions
Severe symptoms can be a sign of anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction. Food allergies, especially peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish, are most likely to cause anaphylaxis; other common triggers are insect stings, medications, and latex. Symptoms usually occur within a few minutes (but can happen in seconds) after exposure to the allergen. It important to understand that reactions can also occur as much as 2-4 hours later.
Treatment of Allergies
The best way to treat allergies is to avoid exposure to the allergen all together. However, this is not always possible, especially when caring for small children. Mild reactions can be treated with antihistamines and oral or topical steroids. Severe reactions leading to anaphylaxis require the prescribed drug epinephrine.
Epinephrine is the drug form of the hormone adrenaline. It quickly improves breathing, increases heart rate, and reduces swelling of the face, lips, and throat. It is available in an auto-injector form; common brands include EpiPen, Adrenaclick, and Auvi-Q. In some states, epinephrine is allowed to be stored in public places, like a childcare center, without a prescription. It’s very important to be able to quickly administer epinephrine in the event of an emergency. Most brands will provide test units for practice.
Often, childcare providers worry they won’t be 100% sure that a child is having a reaction and won’t know when to use epinephrine. However, according to the CDC, “the risk of death from untreated anaphylaxis outweighs the risk of adverse side effects from using epinephrine.” If a child has a prescription for epinephrine, they’ve had a life-threatening allergic reaction in the past. Hesitation could put their life at risk.
Our Kiddie Kare A’Kademie Staff have all been trained in using an Epi-Pen. We pride ourselves in our annual CPR refresher training and that we are all First Aid Certified.
Anytime epinephrine is used emergency services should be contacted immediately. The child will need further care and monitoring, even if they seem fine.
Working with Children
Anyone working with children should have some knowledge of allergic reactions. It’s crucial for providers to be able to recognize a reaction since children often won’t be able to describe what is happening to them and they could potentially be having their first reaction ever. FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) lists some different ways children may describe a reaction, such as complaining about food being spicy or their tongue feeling hot.
We include a place on our enrollment forms for parents to list allergies so our teaching staff is aware of all allergies listed for each child in our care. We post all allergies in classrooms and in our kitchen for easy referral when preparing meals and snacks. It is very important to us to maintain a safe learning and caring environment for our children and our teaching staff.
Please rest assured knowing that if your child has an allergy, they will be well taken-care-of at Kiddie Kare A’Kademie!