A food allergy can be no joke, especially to something as common as peanuts. The burden that most people carry with them of having a nut allergy is a daily struggle; however, it can feel even harder to cope with during the holiday season.
According to allergy and immunology specialist Dr. Ananth Thyagarajan. or “Dr. T”, there are about 1.3 million children and teenagers that suffer from a peanut allergy. What’s even scarier is that the symptoms of an allergic reaction can vary. They could be as little as itching in the mouth or facial hives, to throat swelling or other life threatening reactions.
Dr. T shares some tips for children and parents who want to feel safe this holiday season while dealing with a peanut allergy. Here is what he suggests:
For Holiday Guests
- Let the host know about peanut allergies
- Offer to bring allergen safe meal or dessert
- Feed affected child before a gathering
- Keep epinephrine pen available
For Holiday Hosts
- Ask guests about potential food allergies
- Keep a list of ingredients
- Allow allergic guest to eat first
There is now an FDA-approved oral treatment that can help decrease a patient’s sensitivity to peanuts. This would mean that the affected patient would not feel their symptoms as badly as they normally would. However, you should always check with your doctor before taking anything new.
To learn more about this oral treatment, visit www.helpforpeanutallergies.com
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