Ditto. No where in the article does it indicate that a child who has eaten cheese poses a danger to Elodie if they touch her, or if she touches their desk. The mother does complain that they eat her allergens in front of her, as if the real problem here is Elodie's jealousy that she can't also have cheese. That's something that Elodie simply has to learn to deal with, as it's not going to change over the course of her life.
Now, if Elodie's life is threatened by breathing the same air as someone who has had eggs or dairy, the way peanut allergies can often be that serious, then that is a different matter -- but the article does not really paint that picture.
It would be
extremely rare for someone to have an anaphylactic reaction to dairy or egg in the air. (Many people have reactions while a food is cooking, especially to fish/shellfish.) It is possible by contact (my post above shows DS' reaction to the only direct contact he's had to both dairy and egg) but it is not common to go into anaphylaxis. It definitely
could happen though. The issue with her being so young is that the residue stays on other kids hands and transfers to toys, pencils, shared items. If she then uses those items and wipes her eyes, nose, mouth, those proteins can then be ingested. That's why good hand washing by the entire class is so imperative. And what kid doesn't need to wash their hands more?
As for the emotional part of it--it is
very hard to see your child excluded from every social event. Every school function has tons of food at it. Every holiday party, birthday party, play places. Everywhere. With allergies this severe, these kids cannot eat anything. DS has broken down in tears many times, but for the most part does really well with it. We explain to him that to keep him safe, we need to be careful. He remembers his severe (and not as severe) reactions and wants to avoid them. There are studies that have been published lately regarding bullying and anxiety for food allergy kids that make me want to keep him as little as he is.
Regarding how a kid with a severe food allergy lives--you do avoid certain places. We will not take DS to any hibachi type restaurant or any restaurant that serves peanuts and throw the shells on the ground, etc. The risk is just too high for him. But again--that is on us as his parents to manage and teach him, not to shutdown restaurants like that. We also use lots of wipes to wipe lots of surfaces outside our home (and in our home, actually.) I'm sure we look like crazy people but when you've run into the ER with a swelling, barely breathing, collapsed child in your arms several times, you're okay with looking crazy to other people to keep him safe.
We are also blessed with a great support system of friends and family that try to always make sure there is something safe for him to eat when we go to their house. Example--fresh fruit cut with a clean knife on a clean cutting board that never touches any other food. We never ask anyone to do this and always bring his own food, but he is over the moon at that small gesture that the rest of us take for granted.
ETA: One more thought--when non food allergy families hear these stories like Elodie, even if you don't agree with the mother, please have compassion on the child. These little children have been poked, prodded, tested, sent by ambulance, hospitalized, have horrible memories of reactions and have endured way more than kids this age should have to. No matter what, these are still very little children and none of this is within their control.
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