LAKE MARY, Fla. – Kids eating lunch in the cafeteria is not something most parents consider dangerous at school, but children with severe food allergies could be putting their lives at risk.
"Sometimes just trace amounts of these foods can cause very serious life-threatening reactions, and this is the child that we really watch out for," said Dr. Michael Anderson, allergist-immunologist in Orlando.
Anderson has been treating Central Florida patients with food allergies for 27 years. He said severe allergic reactions can happen at a young age, and anaphylaxis can cause death.
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"Food allergies are becoming more common, as are all allergies," said Anderson.
The most recent data shows peanut allergies have increased by 350 percent in the past two decades.
According to the CDC, between 4 and 6 percent of children have some type of food allergy.
More than 170 foods are known to cause food allergies. The majority of patients with serious allergic reactions are affected by milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts.
Treatment can be difficult because each exposure can produce a different result for the patient.
"Sometimes we'll even do challenges here in the office and actually give them some of the foods, if they're afraid to try them it at home," said Anderson.
Experimental treatments have helped patients with their symptoms, but there isn't any proven treatment that can prevent or completely relieve symptoms. One recent study published in the journal Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, tested a combination of peanut proteins and a particular probiotic given under close supervision to children with peanut allergies. Afterward, 23 of the 28 patients could eat peanuts without an allergic reaction. Doctors called it a new hope for serious allergy sufferers.
Anderson said for now, kids with life-threatening food allergies have to learn to use epinephrine in case of an emergency.
"There is a state law that does allow students to carry and self-administer epinephrine, but the school has to have the doctor's order," said Nancy Lacasse, registered nurse with the Seminole County School Board.
Lacasse said in over 20 years of working in schools she has never had to administer epinephrine, but she's always prepared with individual health care plans.
"And that just pulls the you know when was it diagnosed? What were the symptoms? How was it treated? Does the child have asthma, because a lot of kids with allergies do have asthma too. Do they need an inhaler at school? And then we come up with what we call an Emergency Action Plan," said Lacasse.
Lacasse said some schools designate a table in the cafeteria as "nut-free" for students with allergies. Parents may also receive handouts at the beginning of school informing them of a student with a food allergy and the need for a "nut-free classroom."
"Parents are usually as a group pretty great about that, when it comes to, if you're saying it has to do with child safety, everybody wants to, who can be against child safety?" said Lacasse.