Community
Food Allergies
The following information is provided for information
sharing and awareness raising purposes only.
It is not meant to replace a face to face consultation with a
medical practitioner nor first aid and/or anaphylaxis training.
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Community
Food Allergies
AWARENESS:
Food allergy is on the increase in Australia, in fact worldwide
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1 – 2% of Australian adults have a food allergy
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10% of infants aged 1 year have a food allergy
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In an already diagnosed person, symptoms of a food
allergic reaction are usually obvious and generally occur
within 30 minutes of eating the food. Anaphylaxis may
present as a sudden severe asthma attack which may
make food allergic reaction less obvious.
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Community
Egg
Shellfish
Treenut
Milk
Sesame
Fish
Food Allergies
AWARENESS
9 foods cause the majority of food triggered allergic reactions
These foods are:
Soy
Wheat
Peanut
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Peanut
tree nuts (cashew, pistachio etc),
Cow’s Milk
Egg
Fish
Shellfish (prawn, lobster etc)
Sesame
Soy
Wheat
However, any food can cause a reaction in a sensitive person,
even foods such as banana, kiwi fruit and onion.
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Community
Food Allergies
AVOIDANCE
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There is no cure for food allergy - avoidance of the
food is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction.
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Small amounts of the food can trigger a reaction.
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Reading food labels and asking about food
allergen content is essential.
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Community support and awareness helps prevent reactions.
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Community
Food Allergies
Recognising an allergic reaction to food
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Food allergic reactions may be mild, moderate or severe
(anaphylaxis).
Mild to moderate symptoms can include: hives or welts,
swelling of the face, lips and eyes, tingling mouth, stomach/gut
pains and vomiting
Other symptoms can include a very runny or blocked nose,
watery eyes, skin redness, itchy skin or diarrhoea.
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Community
Food Allergies
Recognising a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to food
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
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difficult/noisy breathing
swelling of tongue
swelling/tightness in throat
difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
wheeze or persistent cough
Persistent dizziness or collapse
pale and floppy (in young children)
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www.allergy.org.au
for use with EpiPen ® or Epipen ® Jr adrenaline autoinjectors
(with blue safety release and orange needle end )
Name:
Date of birth:
• swelling of lips, face, eyes
• hives or welts
• tingling mouth
• abdominal pain, vomiting (these are signs of a severe allergic
reaction to insects)
Photo
• For insect allergy, flick out sting if visible. Do not remove ticks
• Stay with person and call for help
• Give medications (if prescribed) ..............................................
Dose: ..........................................................................................
• Locate EpiPen® or EpiPen® Jr
• Contact family/emergency contact
Confirmed allergens:
Family/emergency contact name(s):
Watch for any one of the
following signs of Anaphylaxis
Work Ph:
Home Ph:
Mobile Ph:
• difficult/noisy breathing
• swelling of tongue
• swelling/tightness in throat
• difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
• wheeze or persistent cough
• persistent dizziness or collapse
• pale and floppy (young children)
Plan prepared by:
Dr
Signed
1
2
PLACE ORANGE
END against outer
mid-thigh (with or
without clothing).
3
4
REMOVE EpiPen®.
Massage
injection site for
10 seconds.
PUSH DOWN
HARD until a click
is heard or felt
and hold in place
for 10 seconds.
If in doubt, give EpiPen
®
or EpiPen ® Jr
EpiPen®
Jr is generally prescribed for children aged 1-5 years.
*Medical observation in hospital for at least 4 hours is recommended after anaphylaxis.
Additional information
BDUJPO!QMBO!GPS
B obq i z m by j t
www.allergy.org.au
Name:
for use with Anapen® or Anapen® Jr adrenaline autoinjectors
Date of birth:
! N J M E ! U P ! N P E F S BU F ! B M M F S H J D ! S F B D U J P O!
UÊÃÜiˆ˜}ʜvʏˆ«Ã]Êv>Vi]ÊiÞiÃ
UʅˆÛiÃʜÀÊÜiÌÃ
UÊ̈˜}ˆ˜}ʓœÕÌ
UÊ>L`œ“ˆ˜>Ê«>ˆ˜]Êۜ“ˆÌˆ˜}ʭ̅iÃiÊ>ÀiÊÈ}˜ÃʜvÊ>ÊÃiÛiÀiÊ>iÀ}ˆVÊ
reaction to insects)
Photo
!
BDUJPO
U For insect allergy, flick out sting if visible. Do not remove ticks
U Stay with person and call for help
U Give medications (if prescribed) ....................................
dose: ..........................................................................
U Locate Anapen® or Anapen® Jr
U Contact family/emergency contact
Confirmed allergens:
Family/emergency contact name(s):
Watch for any one of the
following signs of Anaphylaxis
Work Ph:
UÊ`ˆvvˆVՏÌɘœˆÃÞÊLÀi>̅ˆ˜}
UÊÃÜiˆ˜}ʜvÊ̜˜}Õi
UÊÃÜiˆ˜}É̈}…̘iÃÃʈ˜Ê̅Àœ>Ì
UÊ`ˆvvˆVՏÌÞÊÌ>Žˆ˜}Ê>˜`ɜÀʅœ>ÀÃiÊۜˆVi
UÊ܅iiâiʜÀÊ«iÀÈÃÌi˜ÌÊVœÕ}
UÊ«iÀÈÃÌi˜ÌÊ`ˆâ∘iÃÃʜÀÊVœ>«Ãi
UÊ«>iÊ>˜`Êvœ««Þʭޜ՘}ÊV…ˆ`Ài˜®
Mobile Ph:
Plan prepared by:
Dr
Signed
Date
Ipx!up!hjwf!Bobqfo©
ps!Bobqfo©!Ks
PLACE NEEDLE END
,9Ê>}>ˆ˜ÃÌʜÕÌiÀÊ
mid-thigh at 90° angle
­ÜˆÌ…ÊœÀÊ܈̅œÕÌÊ
clothing).
ACTION
Effective management of anaphylaxis saves lives
Anaphylaxis must be treated as a medical emergency,
requiring immediate treatment.
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! B O B Q I Z M B Y J T ! ) T F W F S F ! B M M F S H J D ! S F B D U J P O *!
Home Ph:
PULL OFF BLACK
NEEDLE SHIELD.
Food Allergies
1 Lay person flat, do not stand or walk. If breathing is
difficult allow to sit
2 Give EpiPen ® or EpiPen ® Jr
3 Phone ambulance*- 000 (AU), 111 (NZ), 112 (mobile)
4 Contact family/emergency contact
5 Further adrenaline doses may be given if no response after
5 minutes (if another adrenaline autoinjector is available)
© ASCIA 2011. This plan was developed by ASCIA
Form fist around
EpiPen® and
PULL OFF BLUE
SAFETY RELEASE.
PULL OFF GREY SAFETY
*ÊvÀœ“ÊÀi`ÊLÕÌ̜˜°
PRESS RED BUTTON
so it clicks and hold
for 10 seconds.
REMOVE Anapen© and
"Ê "/Ê̜ÕV…ʘii`i°Ê
Massage injection site
for 10 seconds.
!
B D U J P O!
1 Lay person flat, do not stand or walk. If breathing is
difficult allow to sit
2 Give Anapen® or Anapen® Jr
© ASCIA 2011. This plan was developed by ASCIA
Community
Date:
3 Phone ambulance - 000 (AU), 111 (NZ), 112 (mobile)
4 Contact family/emergency contact
5 Further adrenaline doses may be given if no response after
5 minutes (if another adrenaline autoinjector is available)
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If in doubt, give Anapen® or Anapen® Jr
Anapen® Jr is generally prescribed for children aged 1-5 years.
Ii`ˆV>ÊœLÃiÀÛ>̈œ˜Êˆ˜Ê…œÃ«ˆÌ>ÊvœÀÊ>Ìʏi>ÃÌÊ{ʅœÕÀÃʈÃÊÀiVœ““i˜`i`Ê>vÌiÀÊ>˜>«…ޏ>݈ð
Additional information
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Progression of an allergic reaction can be unpredictable.
Often an allergic reaction starts with skin symptoms such as hives
or facial swelling but people can suddenly have breathing difficulty or
collapse, even without early or mild symptoms
Be prepared. Know the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction
Know where your friends/colleagues ASCIA Action Plan and adrenaline
autoinjector is kept.
Know what to do in an emergency situation.
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Community
Food Allergies
ACTION
Adrenaline is essential first aid treatment of anaphylaxis
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Adrenaline autoinjectors contain a single, pre-measured dose of adrenaline.
They have been designed to be given by non-medical people such as a friend,
teacher, childcare worker, parent, passer-by or by the patient themselves
(if able and not too unwell to do so).
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Adrenaline works rapidly to reverse the life threatening signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis
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There are 2 brands of adrenaline autoinjectors available in Australia and New Zealand:
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EpiPen adrenaline autoinjectors (EpiPen®Jr and EpiPen® )
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Anapen adrenaline autoinjectors (Anapen®Jr and Anapen®)
The Jr autoinjectors are prescribed for children between 10-20kg and the other for
children and adults weighing more than 20kg.
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Community
Food Allergies
Be "allergy aware"
Use only accurate, evidence based information
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Be proactive and learn how to help support someone with food
allergy, how to recognise an allergic reaction(including anaphylaxis)
and what to do in an emergency by completing the free ASCIA
anaphylaxis and food allergy e-training www.allergy.org.au
Several informative courses are available :
1.
2.
3.
4.
Anaphylaxis training for schools and childcare services
(can be accessed by anyone in the community including
individuals, parents, caregivers and workplaces)
Anaphylaxis training for health professionals
Anaphylaxis training for pharmacists
Food allergy training for dietitians and other health professionals
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Community
Food Allergies
A few more things to know:
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Take food allergy seriously. Inform those around you
Follow instruction on the ASCIA Action Plan.
Don’t expect a person experiencing anaphylaxis to face it alone.
Their thinking can become unclear and they may not be able to
administer their adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen/ Anapen) themselves.
Lay the person flat, if breathing is difficult, let them sit.
Do NOT let the person stand or walk.
Once adrenaline is administered call 000
If in doubt, give the person their adrenaline autoinjector.
Adrenaline saves lives. Deaths are rare but those who die from
anaphylaxis often receive no adrenaline or, if it is administered,
often it is administered too late after the onset of a severe reaction.
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Community
Food Allergies
More information is available at:
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Anaphylaxis Australia
www.allergyfacts.org.au
www.foodallergyaware.com.au
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ASCIA - Peak medical body for allergy and immunology
www.allergy.org.au
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Anapen information
www.analert.com.au
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EpiPen information
www.epiclub.com.au
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