There has undoubtedly been an increase in the numbers of children with food allergies over the past several years. While it may not necessarily mean greater numbers of children are effected, improvements in means of diagnosis along with increased awareness by physicians and healthcare providers has helped to bring previously undiagnosed allergies to light. Despite the increased awareness, there is still much to learn about coping with food allergies, especially those that are life threatening. A recent survey attempted to find out just how much people do know.
Three percent of household in the US are affected by a life-threatening food allergy according to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. Despite that knowledge, little is known about what the average family with severe food allergies experiences, how accepting parents are of the measures schools must take to protect these children, and what exactly schools are doing to manage the problem.
The National Poll on Children’s Health surveyed parents with children aged 0-13 about food allergies and what their schools and daycare centers are doing accommodate their food allergic children. According to the poll, the most common accommodation is a ban on food or treats from home. One half of elementary schools were reported as having this policy, along with two-thirds of preschools and day care centers.
Previously, parents of non-food allergic children found these accommodations inconvenient, but the new survey found that more parents are accepting of the schools’ policies to help protect other children. Nearly one half of parents reported not feeling inconvenienced, yet another two thirds reported not being comfortable with the accommodations. This raises concerns for educators, policy makers, and clinicians as this parental unwillingess may present a barrier for bringing the policies to other schools or daycare centers.
Additional accommodations made by schools include separate eating areas for food-allergic children, required or posted food allergy plans, and special classroom assignments. Nearly one half of parents reported their schools have special staff training for food allergies. While there is a lot more that needs to be done to protect children with a life threatening food allergy, the survey provides a glimmer of hope that progress is indeed being made.
Tags: food allergies, gluten
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on Saturday, June 6th, 2009 at 1:56 pm and is filed under Baby Food Allergy.
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