Peanuts no small danger

Columbus Dispatch ^ | 02 November 2003 | Tiffany Y . Latta

[Deadeye Division]

Peanuts no small danger
On the rise and potentially deadly, allergic reactions
are forcing schools to keep high-risk kids segregated
Sunday, November 02, 2003
Tiffany Y . Latta
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Though students at Wright Elementary School jockey for a place to sit at lunchtime, Evan Smith takes his time. The Dublin first-grader always has a seat. Evan, 7, sits at a peanut-free table, far away from even the scent of Jif, Peter Pan or Skippy. His friends can sit with him only if their parents have signed notes swearing their children’s lunches don’t contain peanuts.

Since he took two bites of a peanut-butter sandwich when he was 3, Evan has had to steer clear of peanuts and tree nuts.

"He is violently allergic," his mother, Sarah Smith said, recalling that first trip to Children’s Hospital. "Being around it, whether it’s airborne, contact or ingested, he could go into anaphylactic shock."

Wright administrators created the peanut-free table to protect Evan. They represent a growing number of school officials trying to cope with peanut allergies.

The number of children with peanut allergies is growing, but the medical community doesn’t know why, says the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, based in Fairfax, Va. About 100 people — usually children — die of food allergies each year.

Peanuts can cause an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which closes off airways and makes breathing difficult.

In some cases, children have minor reactions — such as hives — simply when they’re near tree nuts, peanuts or peanut butter.

Approximately 3 million Americans are allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, the most severe food-induced allergy, the allergy network says.

Dr. Roger Friedman, an allergist and director of the asthma clinic at Children’s Hospital, said food allergies have become a major concern in schools.

Districts including Dublin, Gahanna-Jefferson and South-Western City Schools, and private schools such as Columbus Academy and St. Agatha have peanut-free tables for children with severe allergies.

Officials with Columbus Public Schools say schools work out individualized food plans for allergic students.

Other districts label lunch items in their cafeterias or post names of students with food allergies in the main office and outside classrooms.

Massachusetts is the only state with school guidelines concerning food allergies. Schools in Houston, San Francisco and Portland, Ore., have banned peanuts altogether.

Friedman said that, at the least, schools should have foodallergy guidelines.

"Are we going to have them go through metal detectors and peanut detectors?" Friedman said. Children with allergies "don’t need to live in a bubble. They can live a normal life with extra precaution."

In many schools, staff members are trained to use EpiPens, emergency injections of epinephrine for severe allergic reactions.

Julia Redman, a nurse at St. Agatha, said the school has an emergency plan in case a student with severe food allergies is exposed.

In 1999, the parochial school in Upper Arlington had just a couple of students with severe food allergies, Redman said. Now there are 10.

Helen Baumberger’s 6-yearold daughter is one of them.

"It’s very stressful at times," Baumberger said. "I make a lot of things from scratch and I don’t buy a lot of pre-package because of the possibility of cross-contamination."

That means, for example, avoiding all chocolate — even without nuts.

The plain M&M’s, she explained, could be contaminated if made at the candy factory in a vat that previously contained M &M’s with peanuts.

"She can’t go eat a cookie or eat a doughnut at most places," Baumberger, 44, said.

She said her first-grade daughter is now adjusting to sitting away from some of her pals at lunchtime.

At first, however, she "felt isolated and lonely," Baumberger said. "Being the only girl in her class with the allergy, she couldn’t sit with the rest of her friends."

Baumberger said that many Upper Arlington parents who have children with food allergies recently formed a support group called the Upper Arlington Food Allergy Partnership. The group is working to establish uniform guidelines for schools.

About 40 students in Dublin schools have peanut allergies, said Barb Sabatino, a district nurse.

While some parents have asked for peanut-free schools, she said, the district works to ensure that students do not share food in the cafeteria or during classroom events such as birthday parties, where peanutfree snacks are available for students with allergies.

Margie Gooch of Dublin has two sons, Robby, 7, and Peter, 10. Both have severe peanut allergies.

Robby sits far from others in the Eli Pinney Elementary School lunchroom.

"If I have a little, I could end up in the hospital. And if I have a lot, I probably will die," said Robby, who also is allergic to tree nuts.

Sarah Smith, Evan’s mother, said lunchtime can be scary for children with allergies and their parents.

"It’s out of my hands. . . . I’ve done everything I can, and the school has done everything they can," Smith said. "Once you get to a certain point, you just have to cross your fingers and hope."

tlatta@dispatch.com

[abner]

The developed world has become so antiseptic that kids don't build up natural immunity, and their bodies overreact when exposed to allergens.

The developed world has become so antiseptic that kids don't build up natural immunity, and their bodies overreact when exposed to allergens.

The developed world has become so antiseptic that kids don't build up natural immunity, and their bodies overreact when exposed to allergens.

I think he's got it!

[Iris7]

I don't have the information to make a valid reply about any change in the incidence of allergies, or if such a change has occurred. I try not to have opinions about what is true and not true on any subject where I don't believe myself to be qualified.

It is not that I am not curious, because I am very much out of the ordinary in my desire for a "rich field".

My #93 is aimed at a different person than you, but expresses my point of view.

"Opinion" is the same thing as "point of view", of course. My experience is that nothing is gained by having an opinion on any subject without special expertise. Still have them, though!!! Just ask my wife!!!

[F.J. Mitchell]

West Nile Disease and SARS weren't diagnosed so many years ago but,WALLAHA!!!! There they are now.

If you become ill and your Doctor tells you that you have an allergy to some food or thing, you just laugh in his face and go home and pig out on whatever it is. R.I.P. sucker!!!!

[LuLuLuLu]

I think the bigger question here is why there are so many more children suffering from these allergies (real or imagined) and asthma.

I'm 49 and I don't remember anyone from my childhood who was either allergic or asmathic.

Any science types out there with an explanation?

When my children were small I heartily subscribed to the idea that dirt (in moderation) and germs (again, in moderation) were good things for children. When my oldest was a toddler, my XMIL used to sterilize an toy she threw on the floor. My XSIL picked up on that habit, and her daughter suffered constantly from every germ to fly in the door.

[Oztrich Boy]

Probably simpler than that.

we are now raising kids in a more sterile environment, and their natural immune system doesn't fully develop.

[Iris7]

So?

And?

Or are you just trivially stating the obvious thinking you have discovered something new??

Have you just found out that people have to work for a living? That without constant effort people starve and die?

[Vinnie]

Myself and my daughter have had the same problem.

Mine started when I was about 14 yr. old same with my daughter.
Sometimes I would get the symptoms once a week. Over the years it has slowed down to maybe twice a year.
I noticed that I usually got a migraine when I had minor stuffiness, sinus trouble, which has subsided as I've gotten older.
Same symptoms as you. 'Aura' ,blank vision, dull headache. The headache would linger for hours.

That is the main reason I never tried to get a pilot's license. That would have disqualified me.

BTW. I eat all kinds of nuts, primarily cashews.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Bears some resemblance to A+ Bert, doesn't he?

[netmilsmom]

>>I don't know. There really are social darwinists on FR.<<

Really? I guess I should watch what I say. I've said some things about liberals that could be taken that way.
I think that it was someone trying to be cute that did not succeed. He dropped a bomb and left. Don't get me wrong, I care about the children who have this disorder, but I also agree that a milder case, with a hysterical mother can cause my daughter to have nothing to eat for lunch. We actually had one of these moms try to demand no peanut butter in the lunch room because her child was allergic. Thank GOD one of the teachers had more sense and said that this child could eat in the teacher's lunchroom.
I do not want to see any kind of harm come to this child. If it were my daughter, I would homeschool or take my child out to my car for lunch. Why should the whole school have to change for my kid??

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"If you become ill and your Doctor tells you that you have an allergy to some food or thing, you just laugh in his face and go home and pig out on whatever it is. R.I.P. sucker!!!!"

I almost died from a food allergy to dried Polish mushrooms I ate 1 time in a huge amount.

Doesn't mean I become a food allergy whacko who is overly concerned (obsessed in many cases) with analyzing all food constantly.

Nor do I act like thought police if someone disagrees with food allergy activists.

Food allergies can be serious, but political movements based on them turn me off.

[rwfromkansas]

I agree about not making the school change.

It seems to be that there are social darwinists on FR; it seems to run in some conservatives....maybe the macho male thing. But, I am not saying there are many.

[William Terrell]

I raised three kids.

Nothing abstract about the analysis. Matter of fact it wasn't an analysis; it was an observation of physical presence.

Does the rattlesnake not bite you because you love it and rattlesnakes in general? When you step on a rotten ledge and are plunging to you death on the rocks below, can you acknowledge your mistake and return to the top to step in a safer place? When you pay welfare mothers to have deadbeat and dependent children does that reduce the deadbeat kids being born?

[William Terrell]

I was stating the obvious to someone to whom it was not obvious.

[goodnesswins]

"And if people keep over-cleaning the bugs will just get stronger "

Well...guess my grand kids won't have to worry...their stay at home mother (My dil) cleans the bathroom about once a month (6), lets cats crawl all over the limited kitchen counters and kitchen table....and poop in the clean clothes basket....

[mugs99]

Why are there more peanut allergic kids than years ago?

It is not because they are protected now.

It is not just nut allergies either. Something very serious has been going on for the last fifty years. It's worldwide and worsening.

It is even causing low birth weight babies, and mental retardation.

Strontium 90?

[Ditter]

Allergies & cleanliness or a lack of it, have no connection. Neither is there any connection between allergies & germs. A person is born with genes that causes allergies. It has nothing to do with eating mudpies or using antibiotic soap.

[goodnesswins]

I've seen a person react like that to a cat, just finding out that a cat lived in the house....not even seeing it.

[Former Proud Canadian]

You just heard of one, me.

[freedumb2003]

Well...guess my grand kids won't have to worry...their stay at home mother (My dil) cleans the bathroom about once a month (6), lets cats crawl all over the limited kitchen counters and kitchen table....and poop in the clean clothes basket....

Ya know, I need to remember to add "within reason" when I post things such as this that suggest "a little dirt is good."

I think what you describe is probably boarderline child abuse.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Dried Polish mushrooms? That sounds about as appetizing as dried horse bisquits. You quite sure the threat to your life wasn't from whatever you consumed prior to ordering such an unusual entre, or even from whatever beverage you must have consumed in great quantities to wash this stuff down your throat.

We are all thankful that you survived that incident.....honest.

I don't think anyone here is implying that you should stop thinking. We are just concerned that such thoughts could be hazadorus to your health.

Food allergies being used to power political movements is a turn off for most thinking people. Too many people though seem to think of people with life threatening food allergies as some kind of hypochondriacs , to the point that some seem to thing it is humours to expose them to the substance that can kill them. In such instances it is the duty of government to protect them by law, just as much as protecting the public from crime and other threats to law abiding citizens.