Manage and respond to
allergy/anaphylaxis
Identify and recognise signs,
symptoms and key characteristics of
allergy/anaphylaxis
In this topic you will learn about food allergies and anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe, life
threatening allergic reaction. In most cases, anaphylactic reactions can be prevented with
safety measures to avoid the known allergen, however, when anaphylactic reactions occur an
emergency response is required.
NSW Health indicates that it is likely that in NSW around 9 out of 10 child care centres may
have at least one child with a food allergy enrolled, and around 2 out of 3 child care services
may have at least one child with a peanut allergy. It is essential therefore that child care staff
know not only how to prevent allergic reactions, but also how to act in an anaphylaxis
emergency.
The Australasian Society of clinical immunology and allergy (ascia) indicate that up to 40% of
children in Australia and New Zealand are affected by allergic disorders some time during life,
with 20% having current symptoms.
Allergic diseases are on the increase, with some estimating they have just about doubled in
western countries over the last 25 years.
The most common allergic conditions in children are;
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food allergies
eczema
asthma and
hay fever (allergic rhinitis).
They are caused by immune system responses to otherwise harmless substances in our
environment, such as pollen or house dust mites.
When someone comes into contact with an allergen, their body has a reaction and they
may display any of the following signs and symptoms:
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cramps
hives
vomiting
distress
itchy ears/eyes
loss of concentration
swelling
rash
shock
lethargy
headache
wheezing
asthma
cramps
sneezing
running nose
itchy at site of contact
shortness of breath
rash
anaphylaxis
Reactions can be:
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Localised e.g. occurring at the site of contact with the allergen. An example of this
might be where a child has brushed up against something in the garden that has
affected them and so you may see swelling, redness or a rash at this site.
Generalised –affecting parts of the body that have not been directly exposed to the
allergen. An example of this is where the child has eaten something they are allergic
to for instance peanut butter, and now has hives all over their body. Hives or welts
(medically termed urticaria) are a red, itchy, raised skin rash, which can look like a
group of mosquito bites an may be the first sign a person has an allergy.
Although allergic reactions are common in young children, severe life threatening reactions
like are uncommon and deaths are rare. Foods are the most common cause of allergies in
infants and young children affecting around 5% of children under 3 years. While most children
will outgrow their allergy, some will not.
Many food allergies may become evident during the first 12 months when a child is given a
food for the first time. This is why it is recommended that we introduce first foods slowly to
the young child, one food at a time. This process makes it easier to identify the allergen and
plan for the avoidance and treatment of the food allergy.
Young child showing
symptoms of allergic
reaction: generalised hives on
body and localised swelling of
lips
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Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction. It occurs when a susceptible person is
exposed to a specific allergen (such as a food or insect sting). Reactions usually begin within
minutes of exposure and can progress rapidly over a period of up to two hours or more.
Anaphylaxis is potentially life threatening and always requires an emergency response.
Anaphylaxis can occur at any age, but is most common in children and young adults.
Allergy triggers
Most commonly anaphylaxis may be triggered by foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, eggs,
wheat, and cow’s milk. Less common food allergens are fish, shellfish, sesame and soy.
Other substances that can trigger severe allergic reactions include medications (especially
antibiotics), bee and other insect stings.
Food allergy reactions almost always occur from eating the food or from touching the mouth
with contaminated hands, utensils, toys or other objects.
Signs of an allergic reaction
Reactions can vary in severity but even mild symptoms can cause distress to the child.
The signs and symptoms of a mild to moderate reaction may include:
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swelling of the face, lips and eyes
rapid appearance of hives, itchy
raised rash or welts on the skin
abdominal pain and vomiting.
The signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis may include one or more of the following:
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difficulty breathing; noisy breathing
difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
swelling/tightness of the throat
wheezing or persistent cough
paleness and floppiness (in young children)
collapse and/or unconsciousness.
Although most food reactions are mild or moderate, a minority of reactions will require an
emergency response. Peanuts, tree nuts, cow’s milk and eggs are the most common
allergens responsible for triggering severe reactions in young children attending a
children’s service.
Most children grow out of cow’s milk and egg allergies before they reach school age or
during the primary years, however, peanut, tree nut and seafood allergies tend to persist.
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Activity 1
Apply organisation risk management
strategies for children with allergy/
anaphylaxis
As the most common allergies we will face in the child care service are related to food, our
service approach to managing food allergies will centre on risk management strategies to
prevent potentially serious reactions by avoiding exposure to the relevant allergen.
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Inc (ASCIA) Guidelines note four
steps in the prevention of food anaphylactic reactions for children’s services:
1. Obtaining medical information about children who may be at risk
2. Education of those responsible for the care of children concerning the risk of food
anaphylaxis
3. Implementation of practical strategies to avoid exposure to known triggers, and
4. Age appropriate education of children with severe food allergies.
Gathering medical information about
anaphylaxis
Activity 2
Action plans and medical kits
Parents’ of a child with an allergic condition will need to provide the service with an
Anaphylaxis Action Plan that has been developed with their doctor, prior to the child
commencing in the service. Action plans provide instructions for staff on what to do if the child
has an allergic reaction and must be updated regularly to ensure they are valid.
Action plans include the child’s name and allergies, a photograph of the child and clear
instructions on treating an anaphylactic episode.
A standardised action plan that may be useful for children’s services is available from
www.allergy.org.au
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Depending on how serious the allergy is, the parent may also be required to provide a medical
kit which will include the action plan and medication, including an adrenaline auto injector,
EpiPen®. This needs to be brought to the service each day the child attends the child care
centre. This medical kit must be stored out of direct sunlight and should be easily accessible in
an emergency situation. Locking it in a cupboard or a room is not recommended as this will
slow down any emergency response.
Activity 3
The importance of education and training
Managing anaphylaxis successfully in the centre will require all families’ staff and children to
be informed about the seriousness of the condition and the steps the service is implementing
to avoid a serious incident.
Activity 4
Activity 5
Should all staff have anaphylaxis training?
Services can consider whether all staff, or only certain identified staff, should have specific
anaphylaxis training, so there is confidence about the service’s capacity to respond to an
emergency situation.
Anaphylaxis training should include:
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Awareness about those allergens that could cause a severe reaction
Preventative measures to minimise the risk of an anaphylactic reaction
Recognition of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and
Emergency treatment, including practical training in the administration of an
EpiPen®.
Refresher training is advised every two years or when the needs of the service or the child/ren
changes. This would include both the enrolment of a child at risk of anaphylaxis and when a
child who is already attending the centre is diagnosed as at risk of anaphylaxis.
In environments where food is provided for children at risk of anaphylaxis, cooks and other
food providers should be fully informed about food allergy, risky food preparation procedures,
cross contamination, and the options for nutritionally equivalent substitutes for potential
allergens in recipes and food preparation.
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Preventing anaphylaxis
Should trigger foods be excluded from the centre?
Many children’s services have developed policy to exclude foods such as peanut butter to
prevent an identified child being accidentally exposed to a food contaminated with the
allergen.
Some have also excluded food products with ‘may contain traces of ...’ statements on the
package. However, medical specialists agree that there is no risk from non-allergic children
eating such foods in the vicinity of an identified child, unless there is direct sharing of the
food.
Any decision to exclude certain foods should be made in consultation with the identified
child’s medical specialist.
It should be made clear to parents and staff that, although allergen avoidance policies
(sometimes called ‘nut free’ policies) are designed to reduce the risk of inadvertent exposure
as far as possible, it is impossible to achieve a completely allergen-free environment in any
service that is open to the general community.
Strategies to prevent allergic reactions from occurring
Where meals are provided by the child care service the following may be considered:
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for a severely allergic child, it may be preferable to have the parents provide
meals prepared at home
meals containing foods/ingredients that are labeled ‘may contain traces of
nuts’, and similar, are not given to the identified child
where the identified child is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts or shellfish, these
foods may be readily excluded from the menu without compromising general
dietary requirements
sharing of food, containers and utensils should not be allowed.
Where children are required to bring food from home for meals:
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sharing of food, containers and utensils should not be allowed
eating areas and utensils should be thoroughly cleaned with warm soapy
water, or put through a dishwasher cycle if appropriate, to remove traces of
potential allergens.
Special events
The parents of a child with severe food allergy should be given advance notice of any special
events. Events such as birthdays, excursions, cooking experiences all pose particular risks to
the child with anaphylaxis and must be managed thoughtfully.
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Child care services can reduce the likelihood of accidental exposure to food allergens by:
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Asking parents of all children not to send foods that contain the most common
allergens for celebrations and occasions when food might be shared
Asking parents of the child with severe food allergy to provide a treat box filled with a
variety of items that the child or staff can choose from when a treat is required. They
could also provide specially prepared cup cakes or muffins in a container with their
child’s name clearly labelled on it to be frozen in readiness for any celebration that
occurs in the child care service
Making sure materials such as cow’s milk cartons, egg cartons or eggshells are clean
and free of contamination before using for art and craft activities
Being aware of the risk to an identified child of using allergenic foods in cooking
activities (e.g. baking cakes, frying eggs)
Keeping grassy areas mown, and reducing plants that attract stinging insects
Working together with the parents of the identified child to gain a shared
understanding of the level of risk in routine activities, such as cooking and craft, and
the overall philosophy of inclusiveness for all children.
Continuing education and awareness strategies. It will be vital for all staff, volunteers
and students to be made aware of an individual child’s allergy condition and action
plan. All staff should participate in anaphylaxis training and will need to know when
and how to administer the adrenaline auto injector (EpiPen®) in the event of an
emergency.
Administer medication for
anaphylaxis according to
organisation policies and legislative
requirements
The importance of action plans in the management of anaphylaxis in the child care service has
been mentioned previously. You will recall that action plans provide steps for staff to follow in
an allergy emergency.
Usually a child’s anaphylaxis action plan will indicate the need to administer a dose of
adrenaline via an EpiPen®.
EpiPen® is an emergency device which injects a dose of adrenaline into the thigh muscle in the
thigh. It is used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). It contains one dose of
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adrenaline. The drug adrenaline reverses the severe allergic reaction for example by reducing
throat swelling, opening the airways, and maintaining blood pressure and can be lifesaving.
EpiPen®. an example of an adrenaline auto-injector used to treat anaphylactic shock
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Training is required to administer the injection and should be given to all staff if a child, who
may require this, attends the service. Giving this type of injection is a simple process but
should be demonstrated and explained by a skilled staff member.
Like Ventolin, Adrenaline requires a pre-arranged parental permission form to be signed.
The anaphylaxis action plan tells you when you should give the EpiPen®. If your child develops
an allergic reaction with any of the following symptoms you should use the EpiPen®;
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Difficulty/noisy breathing
Swelling of tongue
Swelling/tightness in throat
Difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
Wheeze
Persistent cough
The EpiPen® should also be used if collapse or loss of consciousness develops in an allergic
reaction.
Be aware that young preschool age children may become pale and floppy without other
symptoms and in this case the EpiPen® should be used.
Remember: if you are in doubt it is better to use the EpiPen® unnecessarily rather than not
treat a serious reaction.
Staff may have concerns about administering this injection so services should consider
purchasing a trainer EpiPen® so that staff can have regular practice with the device (purchase
through Anaphylaxis Australia, http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/).
Activity 6
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Activity 7
Some final words about Epipen injectors
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Remember EpiPen®s can only be used once.
Once the device has been used it needs to be replaced
As with all emergencies the service response to the anaphylaxis incident needs to be
reviewed along with service policies and procedure. Staff should reflect on whether
the emergency could have been avoided?
Summary
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An allergy is a sensitivity and an immune response to a usually harmless substance
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life threatening form of allergic response.
The growing incidence of allergies in our community means that it is vital that child
care workers have a sound awareness of their roles and responsibilities with relation
to not only the prevention of anaphylaxis but the identification of and emergency
response to an anaphylaxis emergency.
Additional resources
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Inc (ASCIA) has developed an
action plan for anaphylaxis available at: www.allergy.org.au
Anaphylaxis Australia has produced a fact sheet “Starting Kinder or Preschool with Food
Allergies” available at : http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/PDF/AAI%20Starting%20preschool.pdf
Think F.A.S.T Poster A3 poster alerting people to the seriousness of anaphylaxis, the signs and
symptoms that may appear available for purchase from Anaphylaxis Australia . Mailing
address: PO Box 3182 Asquith NSW 2077.
Web www.allergyfacts.org.au
Email coordinator@allergyfacts.org.au
Fax (02) 9482 4113
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NSW Health Anaphylaxis guidelines for children's services:
http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/docswr/_assets/main/documents/anaphylaxis_guidelines.
pdf
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