Sometimes death is narrowly avoided. On an ordinary summer afternoon several years ago, Gayle Kelly, a Lutherville mother of four, inexplicably arrived a half hour early to pick up her youngest son from a playdate. This simple change in schedule probably saved her 7-year-old son?s life.
Two of the Kelly boys have serious peanut allergies, and now one was in the throes of a severe reaction. His voice had already become squeaky, as his throat began closing up.
Upon arrival at the nearest emergency room, he began foaming at the mouth, and his arms began to flail. The immediate administration of epinephrine and expert medical care saved the boy?s life.
My own young daughter has a peanut allergy, and has from an early age been proactive in protecting herself as much as possible. She always has her medical kit with her, which contains an Epipen, Benadryl and emergency contact information.
She has been faithful to forego any food of which she is unsure. We always supply appealing alternatives so she does not feel left out. As a mother, it would be easy to be overcome with anxiety, given the prevalence of peanut products. But life in general is filled with peril, so it?s much better to adopt an attitude of relaxed vigilance.
From egg rolls to chili, peanuts pop up in a variety of products. This poses a serious, sometimes life-threatening, problem for the ever-increasing portion of our population who are allergic to peanuts. Since no cure exists, education, information and preparedness are the keys to safety.
This year, Food Allergy Awareness Week runs from May 14-20, and provides a great opportunity to learn more oneself or educate others about this alarming trend.
According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), almost 1.8 million Americans are allergic to peanuts, of whom approximately 440,000 are children. That number has doubled since 2001, and is part of a greater increase in all allergies. The scientific community has yet to discover the cause of this dramatic rise.
It is vital to understand the severity of a peanut allergy. Unlike other allergies, reactions can be caused by skin contact and inhalation, as well as ingestion of even trace amounts. Reactions, such as an immediate tingling in the mouth, can proceed to hives, restricted breathing and even death within a very short time frame (a half hour to two hours). Immediate ingestion of Benadryl and/or injection by Epipen (epinephrine) help to alleviate anaphylactic (systemic) reaction. It is vital to call 911 for medical help.
Anne Munoz-Furlong, founder and CEO of FAAN, stresses that it is important, particularly when away from home, to “ask before you eat.” Recent laws require more comprehensive labeling, and many airlines no longer serve peanuts. Pending federal legislation would provide voluntary food allergy risk-management guidelines, which could be distributed to school systems. Maryland co-sponsors of H.R.4063 ? The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act ? include Reps. Elijah Cummings, Steny Hoyer and Chris Van Hollen. A similar bill will be introduced in the Senate.
Paul Glomp is the president of the Central Maryland Chefs and Cooks Association, which is a chapter of the American Culinary Federation. In addition, he is the executive chef at a club. He notes that, “Researching the food before it gets to the kitchen is a cautionary measure that I take regarding peanut and nut allergies, since there has been a dramatic increase, particularly among young children.”
As longtime Calvert School nurse Bardelle Offutt emphasizes, “All the staff are trained to administer Epipens, which are posted around the school and included on field trips. I hope that people will continue to heed this serious issue. We wouldn?t fool around with that. It?s too serious.”
Brooke Gunning is the author of several regional bestsellers, including “Maryland Thoroughbred Racing,” “Baltimore?s Halcyon Days” and “Towson and the Villages of Ruxton and Lutherville.” She currently is at work on her next book.
