Food allergies in children are common and can be due to peanuts, other tree nuts (brazil, cashew, hazelnuts, almonds), fish, shellfish, eggs, wheat, milk, milk products, soy, seed and some fruits. Food allergies are more common in children under 5 years of age than in older children because young children may grow out of food allergies. The commonest food allergies are due to milk, egg and peanut. Peanut allergy is the most likely allergy to need availability of adrenaline. Other substances to which children can have a severe allergic reaction are drugs (especially antibiotics and vaccines), bees, other insect stings, and some plants. The most severe form of allergic reaction to any substance is anaphylaxis and effective immediate management requires adrenaline.
Where a child is known to have a susceptibility to severe allergy or anaphylaxis to a particular food, have a “food free policy” for that particular food, e.g. a “Nut Free Policy”, which would exclude children or other people visiting the centre from bringing any foods containing nuts or nut products such as : - peanuts, brazil nuts, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pecan nuts - any other type of tree or ground nuts, peanut oil or other nut based oil or cooking product, peanut or any nut sauce, peanut butter, hazelnut spread, marzipan - any other food which contains nuts such as chocolates, sweets, lollies, nougat, ice creams, cakes, biscuits, bread, drinks, satays, pre-prepared Asian or vegetarian foods - foods with spices and seeds such as mustard, poppy, wheat and sesame seeds - nut and peanut material is also often in cosmetics, massage oils, body lotions, shampoos and creams such as Arachnis oil.
PDF Education Supplies have vinyl sticker to display to raise awareness that you have a child with a NUT, Dairy or EGG allergy in your care. www.pdfeductionsupplies.com.au
There is a little girl in my daughters class who is allergic to so many things which can kill her, so this is a very important message to get out there.