Understanding And Managing Your Child's Food Allergies

by Sicherer, Scott H.

• ISBN13: 9780801884917
• ISBN10: 0801884918
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-10-24
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr

Summary

For children with food allergies, eating -- one of the basic functions of life -- can be a nightmare. Children who suffer or become dangerously ill after eating peanuts, seafood, milk, eggs, wheat, or a host of other foods require constant vigilance from caring, concerned parents, teachers, and friends. In this empathetic and comprehensive guide, Dr. Scott H. Sicherer, a specialist in pediatric food allergies, gives parents the information they need to manage their children's health and quality of life. He describes why children develop food allergy, the symptoms of food allergy (affecting the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and the respiratory system), and the role of food allergy in behavioral problems and developmental disabilities. Parents will learn how to recognize emergency situations, how to get the most out of a visit with an allergist, what allergy test results mean, and how to protect their children -- at home, at school, at summer camp, and in restaurants. Informative, compassionate, and practical, this guide will be indispensable for parents, physicians, school nurses, teachers, and everyone else who cares for children with food allergies.

Author Biography

Scott H. Sicherer, M.D., is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a researcher in the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the author of The Complete Peanut Allergy Handbook.

Table of Contents

To the Reader	p. vii
Foreword	p. ix
Introduction	p. xi
The Many Faces of Food Allergy	p. 1
Food Allergy: The Nuts and Bolts	p. 3
Anaphylaxis	p. 11
Skin Rashes and Eczema	p. 25
Gastrointestinal Problems	p. 32
Breathing Problems	p. 47
Growth Problems	p. 52
Behavior and Developmental Disabilities	p. 56
Additives and Cross-Reactions	p. 61
Diagnosing a Food Allergy	p. 71
The Medical History	p. 73
Allergy Tests for IgE: Skin and Blood Tests	p. 81
Elimination Diets and Oral Food Challenges	p. 97
Other Tests	p. 108
Putting It All Together	p. 114
Treating an Allergic Reaction	p. 123
Epinephrine	p. 125
Antihistamines and Other Therapies	p. 131
Emergency Action Plans for Anaphylaxis	p. 139
Avoiding Food Allergens	p. 145
Avoidance Diets	p. 151
Maintaining a Nutritious Diet	p. 159
Navigating the Supermarket	p. 164
At Home and in Social Settings	p. 171
In Restaurants and while Traveling	p. 179
At School and Camp	p. 187
Food Allergy at Different Ages and Stages	p. 205
Infants and Toddlers	p. 207
Preschool and School-Age Children	p. 215
Teenagers and Young Adults	p. 222
Emotional Concerns	p. 229
The Effect on Children and Families	p. 231
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle	p. 239
Food Allergy in the Long Term	p. 245
The Natural Course of Food Allergy	p. 247
Preventing Food Allergy	p. 253
Looking Toward the Future	p. 265
Research for Improved Diagnosis	p. 271
Research for Treatment and Cures	p. 278
Keeping Current
An Action Plan for Anaphylaxis	p. 287
Food Allergy Resources	p. 290
Glossary of Common Allergic Disorders	p. 293
Selected References	p. 299
Index	p. 305
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