Peanut Allergy

[Mandychelle79]

What makes peanut allergies different is that the "stickiness" of peanut oils mike the likelihood of cross/accidental contamination more likely.

As long as the allergen is in the school, the possibility of contamination exists no matter what the allergen is. Since it is impossible to make sure all the allergens are not in the school I would think that the BIG 8 would need to be if they were planning on not allowing 1 of them. Children I know reacted to the milk that was spilled and then cleaned up, because not all of the protein was removed with the cleaning. One child I knew was even being tested because she was reacting when there was no contact with dairy, so the allergist was exploring the idea of it being an inhalation contact.

 

[aprilgail2]

What makes peanut allergies different is that the "stickiness" of peanut oils mike the likelihood of cross/accidental contamination more likely.

OK- but now tell me what happens in the peanut free school once my daughter has her normal peanut butter on toast for breakfast and its all over her hands and mouth when she shows up at that peanut free school? You can tell me I can't send it to school but they can not tell me I can't feed it to her for breakfast before school. Suddenly the peanut free school is not as safe as everyone seems to think it is because the kids that eat peanut butter for breakfast have now contaminated it.

 

[sha_lyn]

OK- but now tell me what happens in the peanut free school once my daughter has her normal peanut butter on toast for breakfast and its all over her hands and mouth when she shows up at that peanut free school? You can tell me I can't send it to school but they can not tell me I can't feed it to her for breakfast before school. Suddenly the peanut free school is not as safe as everyone seems to think it is because the kids that eat peanut butter for breakfast have now contaminated it.

If you've read what I have stated I have never said it should be banned. I have said that school can contain it easier if there is a peanut table as opposed to having a peanut free one.

 

[Nancyg56]

Every study I have heard of shows the opposite. That earlier introduction of allergens is causing allergies. IE peanut allergies are more prevalent in children who were treated with certain diaper rash or eczema ointments because the base ointment contains peanut oils.

I know. This was interesting because I had never heard it before, the opposite was all I knew. The Dr was very clear that he was not suggesting that we change anything now, he was just discussing the article that was posted in a medical journal. It was true that the children in Tel Aviv are much less to be allergic to peanuts though and they were introduced much earlier. It bears thinking about.

 

[BRDof3]

OK- but now tell me what happens in the peanut free school once my daughter has her normal peanut butter on toast for breakfast and its all over her hands and mouth when she shows up at that peanut free school? You can tell me I can't send it to school but they can not tell me I can't feed it to her for breakfast before school. Suddenly the peanut free school is not as safe as everyone seems to think it is because the kids that eat peanut butter for breakfast have now contaminated it.

I have never in my life told the rest of the world how to live, nor would I. I would not ask that you suddenly start being restricted to my dietary concerns. I am simply looking at how we safeguard my son while at school.

The "ain't nobody gonna tell ME what to do" crowd is always there, nothing new about that. I do, however, hope that you are never asking for help for yourself or your child, only to be told that they will "fight tooth and nail" against you.

Edit: I know that wasn't AprilGail2 that said that, but it was a prefect example of the stubborn, digging-in-your-heels reaction that I hear from so many people. If I knew that someone's child was that threatened by someting that I could easily do without during a small slice of time, I would not have any problem at all removing it from the situation.

 

[Master Mason]

I have never in my life told the rest of the world how to live, nor would I. I would not ask that you suddenly start being restricted to my dietary concerns. I am simply looking at how we safeguard my son while at school.

The "ain't nobody gonna tell ME what to do" crowd is always there, nothing new about that. I do, however, hope that you are never asking for help for yourself or your child, only to be told that they will "fight tooth and nail" against you.

Edit: I know that wasn't AprilGail2 that said that, but it was a prefect example of the stubborn, digging-in-your-heels reaction that I hear from so many people. If I knew that someone's child was that threatened by someting that I could easily do without during a small slice of time, I would not have any problem at all removing it from the situation.

To the bold part above, actually you did, in your very first post you said that you were going to ask that the school be made peanut free, you are therefore requesting that people conform to you dietary restrictions, and feel that it is ok to tell them what to do.

 

[BRDof3]

To the bold part above, actually you did, in your very first post you said that you were going to ask that the school be made peanut free, you are therefore requesting that people conform to you dietary restrictions, and feel that it is ok to tell them what to do.

Re-read the post. I did not say that I was planning to ask or demand anything. I was asking if it had been done anywehere else, so that I could read on the actions, their effects, and learn from their experience.

What I want is to find a way to avoid having him branded and tagged for the public to comment on. He has been called "Mr. Peanut" by a "allegedly" adult teacher. I don't think that we normally aaddress people as "Mr. Cancer" or "Miss Cerebral Palsey" because we don't demand that they advertise their health condition in order to be allowed in the room.

I am trying to find a common ground, not give orders.


Edit: OK, time to correct myself. We want to know if peanut-free schools are even possible, much less effective. We are trying to find out if it has been done, and if it has, what was the result. If it was effective and there were no civil wars over it, it would be worth asking about. If it didn't have an effect on the situation then it's not a battle to pick.

Sorry, my original post didn't make that clear.

 

[Nancyg56]

You can tell me I can't send it to school but they can not tell me I can't feed it to her for breakfast before school. Suddenly the peanut free school is not as safe as everyone seems to think it is because the kids that eat peanut butter for breakfast have now contaminated it.

Parents with young children who suffer from allergies are well aware that school is not 100% safe for their kids. They are simply trying to keep their children as safe as possible. There are no guarantees that peanut oil will be completely absent and they are not asking that. Just a little care to help make it safer.

I seldom read into posts because it is difficult to be able to discern tone but I make an exception here, there is an air of "So take that" in your post but I truly hope I it is not so. No parent has asked that you do not feed your child anything at home. They have simply asked that as a parent, you try to help them when they want their children to be able to enjoy school and school activities like your child can do. Nothing else.

One child I knew was even being tested because she was reacting when there was no contact with dairy, so the allergist was exploring the idea of it being an inhalation contact.

My DGD's pediatrician has suggested that if eggs are cooked we make sure that Kady is out of the room. He said that if some particles are airborne she will have a reaction.

 

[Nancyg56]

The "ain't nobody gonna tell ME what to do" crowd is always there, nothing new about that. I do, however, hope that you are never asking for help for yourself or your child, only to be told that they will "fight tooth and nail" against you.

Edit: I know that wasn't AprilGail2 that said that, but it was a prefect example of the stubborn, digging-in-your-heels reaction that I hear from so many people. If I knew that someone's child was that threatened by someting that I could easily do without during a small slice of time, I would not have any problem at all removing it from the situation.

I know that I have said this before. My DH cousin has told us she absolutely refuses to "deal with any kids allergies" Her DD said that if her schoolmate can't be around peanut butter "let her go eat somewhere else". I think this is the reaction that I am offended by, not a parent who is trying to comply with a child's issues but does foresee problems of their own.

In my DGD's school the administration addresses each child as an individual and takes the necessary steps to keep each child safe. I consider the children in this district blessed because parents have supported this effort and the children affected so that the kids have as normal a day as possible.
So far our schools have not had to have any blanket rules becasue all involved cooperate to keep children safe.

 

[Master Mason]

At least part of what we will be doing is asking the school to go peanut-free.

Re-read the post. I did not say that I was planning to ask or demand anything. I was asking if it had been done anywehere else, so that I could read on the actions, their effects, and learn from their experience.

What I want is to find a way to avoid having him branded and tagged for the public to comment on. He has been called "Mr. Peanut" by a "allegedly" adult teacher. I don't think that we normally aaddress people as "Mr. Cancer" or "Miss Cerebral Palsey" because we don't demand that they advertise their health condition in order to be allowed in the room.

I am trying to find a common ground, not give orders.


Edit: OK, time to correct myself. We want to know if peanut-free schools are even possible, much less effective. We are trying to find out if it has been done, and if it has, what was the result. If it was effective and there were no civil wars over it, it would be worth asking about. If it didn't have an effect on the situation then it's not a battle to pick.

Sorry, my original post didn't make that clear.

As I stated in my earlier post, I don't have a dog in this fight, my youngest in HS now, and we never had to deal with this from a non allergic family.

I was just trying to point out to you from your original post, which I coppied above, that you are infact asking people to conform to your son's restrictions because part of what your going to do is request the school go peanut free.

My only reason for pointing this out, is that you should not be shocked when others disagree with you when your attempting to put restrictions on them and what their children can and can not do.

Everyone has their own crosses to bear with their children, there are no perfect ones, just as there are no perfect parents, everyone is just trying to do what they think is in the best interest of their kids and families. If those things conflict, then it is going to create striff. If you choose to go down that path, then you should just be prepared.


To the part I bolded, the teacher probably could have handled it better, but in the cases you site, others knowing about the condition, doesn't really effect the person with the condition, in your son's case isn't it better if his clasemates also know of his condition so that they can also be on their guard? If I knew your son had a peanut alergy, I wouldn't eat my resses when I was standing there talking to him, if I didn't know, how would I know not to?

 

[Planogirl]

No parent has asked that you do not feed your child anything at home. They have simply asked that as a parent, you try to help them when they want their children to be able to enjoy school and school activities like your child can do. Nothing else.

I think that is very reasonable and I believe that the majority of parents would be glad to help. But I'm also sure that there will be some who won't and some parents who simply forget.

Actually, it would be the ingredients in food items that would concern me not to mention whether these items were made in peanut free facilities. How many parents would bother to read labels?

 

[JoBird]

OP-
I am sorry you are dealing with this issue. It is a very hard thing to try to live your life, worrying about your child every single minute.

Back before I had children, I was a nurse at an allergy and asthma Doctor's office. I have seen patients that are having a full anaphylactic reaction and it is a very very scary thing to witness.

With that being said- I would caution you that the school will not be the only place that you will run into problems.

One of my patients once had a reaction- simply by walking into a McDonalds- a place she had gone numerous times before without any problems. The culprit? They were frying a Filet of Fish sandwich, and she had a full blown attack. Thankfully she survived.

I just am cautioning you that the school is not your only danger.
Places like Chic-Fil-a use Peanut oil to fry in and can be dangerous to a child with severe allergies.

Good luck to you-

Jo

 

[weregoingtodw]

I have seen patients that are having a full anaphylactic reaction and it is a very very scary thing to witness.

I'm just curious here. How many involved in this debate have actually seen - or experienced - a full anaphylactic reaction?

I've experienced several and seen my daughter in the hospital immediately following it (the ambulance obviously beat us to the school and she was already transported to the hospital and much better by the time we got there).

I think that if more people had actually seen it, they would be a LOT more understanding about the dangers faced. I've had several friends & family members witness mine, and people who previously acted like allergies "weren't a big deal" have experienced a complete turnaround in thinking.

And back on the subject of peanuts, be careful around peanut dust as well. My one and only peanut reaction thus far was simply from inhaling the dust. I'm not allergic to peanut or soybean oils, and can still consume anything cooked in/containing them, but one tiny exposure to the proteins of either, and it's not pretty.

 

[Skywalker]

OK- but now tell me what happens in the peanut free school once my daughter has her normal peanut butter on toast for breakfast and its all over her hands and mouth when she shows up at that peanut free school? You can tell me I can't send it to school but they can not tell me I can't feed it to her for breakfast before school. Suddenly the peanut free school is not as safe as everyone seems to think it is because the kids that eat peanut butter for breakfast have now contaminated it.

I just have to chime in here. My son's school actually sent home a letter requesting that people do not feed their children peanut butter in the morning so there is no chance of contact at school. They also requested that we purchase products that state "made in a nut-free factory"...not just for treats sent to school for but for our own home treats, again, in case some crumbs or whatever stay on the kids clothes.

I'm sorry but that is going way too far in my opinion.

My friend has a son that will have a possibly fatal asthma attack because of pet allergies. Should they request that no one at school is allowed to have pets in case a few hairs are stuck on their clothes when they come to school?

Also, at Halloween, there was a notice delivered around my neighbourhood requesting that all houses have "peanut-free" treats available.

Obviously we have someone very militant around here who is getting their way.

I have compassion but you must teach your child that their allergy is NOT the world's problem but their own. It is just a fact. No reasonable adult would KNOWINGLY expose an allergic child to peanuts but beyond that the responsiblity has to be on you.

 

[2goofycampers]

First off to you and your family.

Here is a little info from someone who walks in your shoes.


http://www.traceadkins.com/FAAN/

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Well, the bright point on the horizon is that scientists are diligently working to engineer a peanut that lacks the allergenic compound that's been causing so much trouble. In fact, my kids will probably end up doing their science fair project on it in middle school (not bio-engineering one, just researching it)

http://www.peanutbioscience.com/images/Insert_1.1.1.pdf

 

[DebIreland]

This is a difficult situation and it must be awful worrying about your son's allergy every day.

I'm not in the U.S., I'm in Ireland, but over here all schools I know of have a complete ban on peanuts (and associate products).

Here's a link to a school (with the same ethos as my son's school) http://www.dpetns.ie/AboutUs/pdf/DPETNSHealthyEatingPolicy2008.pdf - scroll down a bit under 'Policy' and you will see "...nuts including peanut butter and nutella.......... are not allowed at any time within the school."

Good luck dealing with this. I've never heard one single parent complain about this ban - it's not an issue at all. I see it as a valuable life-lesson for children - learning to care about other people's needs. Who knows when we'll need extra care and a little bit of sacrifice (if you could even call it that!) ourselves some day.

 

[lulu71]

I don't have a child that has a peanut allergy, but I do have a very picky eater. When I read these posts by other picky eater parents stating that their children shouldn't have to do without peanut butter at school because that's all they eat, I can't help but see this as extremely selfish. Couldn't we as parents be a little more creative with lunches to keep another child safe?

I couldn't imagine sending my child to school with a lunch that could KILL another child. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. As a fellow parent, how anyone can battle the issue is just beyond comprehension.

 

[sha_lyn]

This is a difficult situation and it must be awful worrying about your son's allergy every day.

I'm not in the U.S., I'm in Ireland, but over here all schools I know of have a complete ban on peanuts (and associate products).

Here's a link to a school (with the same ethos as my son's school) http://www.dpetns.ie/AboutUs/pdf/DPETNSHealthyEatingPolicy2008.pdf - scroll down a bit under 'Policy' and you will see "...nuts including peanut butter and nutella.......... are not allowed at any time within the school."

Good luck dealing with this. I've never heard one single parent complain about this ban - it's not an issue at all. I see it as a valuable life-lesson for children - learning to care about other people's needs. Who knows when we'll need extra care and a little bit of sacrifice (if you could even call it that!) ourselves some day.

ITA.... those opposed to restrictions or bans like to "shout" your child needs to learn tha the world doesn't revolve around them. Can't the same thing be said about those who refuse to give up PB for their child for 7 hrs a day 180 days a yr?

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

ITA.... those opposed to restrictions or bans like to "shout" your child needs to learn tha the world doesn't revolve around them. Can't the same thing be said about those who refuse to give up PB for their child for 7 hrs a day 180 days a yr?

It describes a bigger picture. Americans are very devoted to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Anything that smacks of "communal good", ie giving up peanut butter, we're going to react poorly to.

It makes no sense, to me, as a parent of an allergenic child, to ask society to compensate for us. Boo hoo, pare down your liberty for me, that's not how our family operates. We figure out how to be successful given the existing framework, we don't ask the framework to change for our frailties.

I think at some point if people continue to become allergic to peanuts at the skyrocketing rate it is happening (my kid was fine with peanuts until age six, ate one one day and BOOM full blown reaction and trip to the hospital), then, like trans fats, society will decide that we're better off without peanut butter and we'll vote with our pocketbook, as a good capitalistic society should ...

I'd just like to add that I'm following this thread so closely because I'm stuck at the house waiting for furniture to be delivered, and darn it, I just don't feel like cleaning today.