3 Ways an Allergen can Attack
There are three types of allergic reactions to food:
- Contact reactions
- Ingestion reactions
- Inhalation reactions
Related: Food Allergies & Childcare
Contact reactions occur when an allergic child touches the allergen that was left on a surface. Reactions can include hives or itchiness at the point of contact, which become life threatening if the allergic child accidentally ingests the allergen by rubbing his eyes or mouth.
Ingestion reactions occur when the allergic child ingests the allergen. This can cause itchiness or hives around the mouth, or it can lead to a more serious reaction called Anaphylaxis.
Inhalation reactions occur when an allergic child inhales particles of an allergen that are floating through the air. It is important to note that this is not the same as simply smelling the food in question. To help explain, imagine you are in a small room (like a classroom) and you open a bag of peanuts. As the bag pops open, little pieces of dust from the broken peanuts at the bottom of the bag fly out and towards the person sitting next to you (who is allergic to peanuts). This dust (or food particles) can then cause Anaphylaxis in the allergic person.
Currently, there is no cure for food allergies. In a childcare setting, strict rules need to be implemented to avoid allergy attacks from occurring. Join us for our next post, Avoiding an Allergic Outbreak
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