AllergyAllergy AwarenessAwareness

What is an Allergy ?What is an Allergy ?

An allergy is a condition of unusual An allergy is a condition of unusual sensitivity which certain individuals sensitivity which certain individuals may develop to substances may develop to substances ordinarily harmless.ordinarily harmless.

Sensitizing substances are Sensitizing substances are calledcalled allergensallergens..

Common allergens include: pollens, Common allergens include: pollens, molds, house dust, animal dander, molds, house dust, animal dander, bee venom, antibiotics and other bee venom, antibiotics and other medications, nuts, peanuts, milk, medications, nuts, peanuts, milk,

and shellfish.and shellfish.

Others you may not think of include: Others you may not think of include: feathers, chemicals in cosmetics, feathers, chemicals in cosmetics,

wood, dyes, perfumes, metal (such wood, dyes, perfumes, metal (such as nickel), eggs, wheat, heat, cold, as nickel), eggs, wheat, heat, cold,

sunlight, and even exercise!sunlight, and even exercise!

Allergens may be taken into Allergens may be taken into the body by: the body by:

beingbeing swallowed;swallowed;

((such as nuts, peanuts, or such as nuts, peanuts, or shellfishshellfish))

beingbeing injected,injected,

((suchsuch as bee venomas bee venom))

contact on thecontact on the skin,skin,

(such as poison ivy or (such as poison ivy or latex)latex)

inhalation,inhalation,

(such as when poison ivy is (such as when poison ivy is burned or latex particles burned or latex particles

become airborne)become airborne)

oror bacterial infection in the body.bacterial infection in the body.

What happens within the body What happens within the body to cause an allergic reaction?to cause an allergic reaction?

When an When an allergenallergen is taken into the is taken into the body, the body producesbody, the body produces antibodies antibodies which react to recognize and attack which react to recognize and attack it. That is why sensitivity often does it. That is why sensitivity often does not happen with the first contact. It not happen with the first contact. It may take several exposures for the may take several exposures for the

reaction to occur.reaction to occur.

The antibodies (specifically The antibodies (specifically antibodies called IgE) attach to antibodies called IgE) attach to mastmast

cellscells throughout the body. These throughout the body. These mast cells mast cells release histaminesrelease histamines thatthat

produce a reaction in sensitive produce a reaction in sensitive tissuestissues such as eye, nose, skin, such as eye, nose, skin,

respiratory track, digestive track, and respiratory track, digestive track, and cardiovascular system.cardiovascular system.

Who is most likely to develop Who is most likely to develop an allergy?an allergy?

An allergy can develop at any age An allergy can develop at any age from birth to death. Children aged 5 from birth to death. Children aged 5

to 15 are more apt to develop to 15 are more apt to develop allergies than older individuals, yet allergies than older individuals, yet people of any age may experience people of any age may experience

their first allergy attack—after having their first allergy attack—after having lived lived

allergy-free for years.allergy-free for years.

There There isis a hereditary component to a hereditary component to allergic tendency, but anyone can allergic tendency, but anyone can

develop an allergy.develop an allergy.

The 5 most common The 5 most common foodfood allergies in children are:allergies in children are:

MilkMilk EggsEggs Peanuts Peanuts (including products made with peanut oil)(including products made with peanut oil)

Tree Nuts Tree Nuts ( such as walnuts, cashews, pecans, etc.)( such as walnuts, cashews, pecans, etc.)

WheatWheat SoySoy

TreatmentTreatment for Allergiesfor Allergies

#1. #1. Removal of the allergen,Removal of the allergen, if possible. if possible. #2. #2. MedicationMedication such as antihistamines, such as antihistamines,

epinephrine, and others.epinephrine, and others. #3 In some cases, patients opt for #3 In some cases, patients opt for

desensitization injectionsdesensitization injections

WithWith desensitization injections,desensitization injections, a tinya tiny amount of the allergen is injected amount of the allergen is injected

under the skin and is gradually under the skin and is gradually increased over time so that the body increased over time so that the body

can build up resistance. This can build up resistance. This causes the body to increase causes the body to increase

production of a different type of production of a different type of antibody calledantibody called IgG,IgG, which which

recognizes the allergen butrecognizes the allergen but doesn’t doesn’t attach to histamine releasing mastattach to histamine releasing mast

cells.cells.

People working in a school district People working in a school district may have responsibility for may have responsibility for

individuals who have potentially life individuals who have potentially life threatening allergies, so it is threatening allergies, so it is

important to know how toimportant to know how to recognizerecognize andand managemanage a a serious allergic serious allergic

reaction.reaction.

What is What is anaphylaxisanaphylaxis or an or an anaphylactic reaction?anaphylactic reaction?

It is a sudden, severe, allergic It is a sudden, severe, allergic reaction that involves various reaction that involves various

systems of the body systems of the body simultaneously.simultaneously.

It is a true, life-It is a true, life-threatening emergency!threatening emergency!

An anaphylactic reaction, if not An anaphylactic reaction, if not treated, can quickly lead to treated, can quickly lead to

anaphylactic shock.anaphylactic shock.

When this happens, exposure to the When this happens, exposure to the allergen makes blood vessels dilate allergen makes blood vessels dilate which rapidly causes a severe drop which rapidly causes a severe drop

in blood pressure.in blood pressure.

It is important to It is important to recognizerecognize and and act act quicklyquickly during an anaphylactic during an anaphylactic

emergency because the reaction emergency because the reaction may advance rapidly to respiratory may advance rapidly to respiratory failure, cardio-vascular shock, and failure, cardio-vascular shock, and

sudden death.sudden death.

School district employees such as School district employees such as teachers, bus drivers, and others teachers, bus drivers, and others

may be in situations where they will may be in situations where they will be expected to recognize a severe be expected to recognize a severe

allergic reaction and deliver allergic reaction and deliver emergency treatment in the form of emergency treatment in the form of

an epi-pen or other prescribed an epi-pen or other prescribed medication.medication.

A school district employee, or any A school district employee, or any person, for that matter, is legally person, for that matter, is legally

covered under the “covered under the “Good Samaritan Good Samaritan LawLaw” for assisting a victim in an ” for assisting a victim in an

emergency situation.emergency situation.

In fact, a person who would In fact, a person who would fail to fail to assistassist might be considered might be considered negligent.negligent. In any event, the In any event, the

consequences of not administering consequences of not administering an Epi-pen (or other prescribed an Epi-pen (or other prescribed

medication) to an individual medication) to an individual experiencing a life-threatening experiencing a life-threatening

allergic reaction are unthinkable.allergic reaction are unthinkable.

Please click on the website below for Please click on the website below for a video about how to recognize an a video about how to recognize an anaphylactic reaction and use an anaphylactic reaction and use an

Epi-PenEpi-Pen auto-injection system. auto-injection system. http://www.anaphylaxis

.com/~anaphyla/page/english-cable--how-to-use-epipenreg-auto-injector--epinephrine--anaphylaxis

If you have questions about If you have questions about allergies, allergic reactions, or allergies, allergic reactions, or

administering emergency administering emergency medication, contact any of the Rose medication, contact any of the Rose Tree Media School Nurses. We will Tree Media School Nurses. We will

be happy to offer training and be happy to offer training and answer questions.answer questions.

Be aware.Be aware.Be informed.Be informed.

Be prepared to act to save a life.Be prepared to act to save a life.