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

[ShadowDancer]

Christ, you're disgusting.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Every kid should wear body armor and be under the total control of the govt for their own protection. Parents cannot be trusted.

[Yaelle]

There is some evidence but I don't have a link right now (except a loose one to some remote spot in the recesses of my memory, LOL) that connects some of these WEIRD OVERSENSITIVITIES to the enormous amount of toxins and preservatives and culture cells we shove into our newborns' blood systems with vaccinations.

It is absolutely insane the tens of shots full of whoknowswhat we put into our babies' tiny, new immune systems. Vaccinations may (and may is the absolute correct word, as in studies 85% of measles is found in vaccinated kids) be preventing acute forms of various horrible diseases, most of which most babies are not at all at risk for, and which are easier to survive without sequelae in early childhood than at any other time, though the immunity is worn off long before the dangerous age (teens and up) begins. But with that putative payoff for those many, many needle-sticks, we may also be adding one more cost: a lifetime of chronic lowered immune systems. Look at today's many immune-affected many ailments, such as asthma, lupus, Crohns, allergies; the list is long.

There is a good argument that vaccination makes us weaker as a species, as well. Having a childhood illness and surviving it actually confers some (not 100% but neither do vaccines) immunity to the next generation through the mother's milk. Being vaccinated as a child does not confer anything to your babies.

Anyone who wants some reading material about vaccinations and options, let me know. I have been researching this subject.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Her statement is sheer idiocy. It almost borders on Munchausen-by-proxy. I guess doing all of that really makes mom feel like she's needed..."

Food whackos are a little bit easier to tolerate than environmentalist whackos.

[ShadowDancer]

Give me a break! This is ludicrous! There is NO way that the trace amounts of peanuts from a vat surface, having been mixed and diluted in another vat full of chocolate could be enough to cause a reaction.

Back your statement up.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Sadly, the tolerance police are all over this thread.

Teaching the 'intolerant' how evil and dangerous they are.

No room for sarcasm, either.

Pathetic.

[F.J. Mitchell]

So I've heard, but giving up peanut products several years ago, has worked for me.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"But I don't remember people going into shock around me. Is this some kind of newly evolved allergy or what? It sounds strange--almost fishy--since it wasn't diagnosed not so very many years ago."

It's real. But food allergy whackos and medical charlatans have blown food allergies way out of proportion.

[F.J. Mitchell]

LMAO! Goodun.

[rwfromkansas]

Thank you.

[rwfromkansas]

That's bert for ya.

[William Terrell]

Have you noticed that Mother Nature and physical reality as governed by physical laws are not kind, fair, sweet, and forgiving? We can not change these laws, matter of fact we can't even affect them at all.

One of thses laws says that those who can't deal with normal physical reality don't live to produce more that can't live with physical reality. Emotions when dealing with the brutal truth of this particular law makes a difference only in that we spread weakness instead of strength, which this law is obviously intended to do.

People who stay insulated from the cruel laws of nature too long frequently die instantly on regaining contact with them. The surface of the Earth can resemble Disneyland only by a constant and vast output of energy and effort, and then only temporarily.

[Iris7]

I am sure you have been reminded enough on this thread of Mark Twain's famous statement, freely rendered, that it is not what people don't know that hurts them, but what they do know that ain't so.

I find it best to not have opinions or advance hypotheses on subjects where I do not have adequate special knowledge except, of course, under press of circumstances. Not that I can maintain my own standards very well, of course!!!

[rwfromkansas]

You don't joke about something like that. There is not even a hint of humor in the comment.

[rwfromkansas]

Ever think about how much more common packaged foods have become, chemicals etc.

It is not surprising to have these allergies.

[rwfromkansas]

Lord help me, but you are right for once.

[rwfromkansas]

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

Don't be so confident that they are joking. If they were joking, they would have responded by now to clear that up and defend their name. They haven't.

[American in Canada]

This is f.......bs

[F.J. Mitchell]

"But I don't remember people going into shock around me."

Maybe you just mistook them for real cool, dudes and dames.

[Maceman]

Have you noticed that Mother Nature and physical reality as governed by physical laws are not kind, fair, sweet, and forgiving? We can not change these laws, matter of fact we can't even affect them at all. One of thses laws says that those who can't deal with normal physical reality don't live to produce more that can't live with physical reality. Emotions when dealing with the brutal truth of this particular law makes a difference only in that we spread weakness instead of strength, which this law is obviously intended to do. People who stay insulated from the cruel laws of nature too long frequently die instantly on regaining contact with them. The surface of the Earth can resemble Disneyland only by a constant and vast output of energy and effort, and then only temporarily.

Another completely abstract analysis from someone who has obviously never had any kids.