Does your child have severe allergies? Here's how to educate your child about them!

Imagine your child has a severe food allergy. He's at a friend's birthday party. Everyone is eating cake and eating all kinds of food. But you have a little fear in your heart. "Will my child eat something that is not good for him? Will it hurt him?" This feeling is very common for parents of children with severe allergies . But instead of being afraid, there is a way to manage this situation better. That is, to educate the child about this and involve him in his safety.

Why is it so important to educate children about this?

If your child has a severe allergy, they can have a serious, life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis . Simply put, this is the worst case scenario of an allergy. Severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, and loss of consciousness can occur. So, the best way to prevent something like this is to educate your child about it. If he knows what to eat, what to avoid, and what to do if he experiences symptoms of an allergy, that is his greatest protection.

Let's start this journey from a young age.

The best time to start this is when the child is two or three years old. Even though they are young, they can understand things.

• Practice asking: Encourage your child to ask you about everything they put in their mouth. Instill the habit of asking, "Mommy/Daddy, can I eat this?" Even if they don't always do it right, it's important to instill that habit.
• Identify allergens: When your child is 3-4 years old, clearly explain to him/her what foods he/she is allergic to. For example, simply say, "Son/daughter, you have an allergy to cashews, so you shouldn't eat cashews."
• This is not a punishment, it is a learning experience: Don't let the child feel like this is a punishment or a restriction. Instead, instill in the child the idea that "we should only eat what suits our bodies and is good for us."

Your child should know these things when they start school.

When your child starts school, he or she should have some understanding of his or her own safety . Make sure to explain these things to him or her clearly.

Your attitude as a parent is very important.

The way you view your child's allergy directly affects how they accept it. If you constantly worry about it, get angry, and talk about it in frustration, your child will start to feel like it's a big burden.

When you go to talk to the school teachers and principal about this, take your child with you if possible. But don't portray this as a big problem. Instead, talk from the perspective of "let's all work together to help protect our child."

Practice with your child (Role-playing)

The best way to help children understand these things better is to role-play.

"Imagine you ate something you didn't like at school and suddenly felt sick. What would you do next? Who would you go and tell?" Ask questions like these and help him answer correctly.

As children grow older, let's increase their responsibilities.

As your child gets older, especially as they get older , you should give them more responsibility for their own safety. During this time, encourage them to do the following:

• Practice saying "no": If someone offers you food that you don't like, practice saying "Thank you, I can't eat this" without hesitation.
• Read labels: Make it a habit to read the labels of foods you buy from the store and check for ingredients that are harmful to you.
• Hand washing : Make it a habit to wash your hands thoroughly often, especially before eating.
• Don't put your hands in your mouth: This habit can help prevent you from inadvertently ingesting something you are allergic to.

Should I let my child keep an epinephrine injector?

Doctors prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector for children with severe allergies. This is a life-saving injection given in an emergency. Whether or not to keep this with your child should be decided not only based on their age, but also on their knowledge and maturity.

A child can be considered ready for this if these factors are met:

• If he can use this device properly .
• If only he knew when to use this .
• If only he was mature enough to understand that this is not a toy to show off to his friends, but something that needs to be handled responsibly .

Children can usually be given this responsibility when they are young. However, even if the child can administer the vaccine themselves, it is much safer to have a "buddy system" where a close friend or teacher teaches them how to use it.

Let's help the child by informing others.

You are not always with your child, so it is essential to inform the adults in the areas where your child hangs out about this.

• Use a Medical Alert Tag: From a young age, have your child wear something like a bracelet that lists their allergies. This way, anyone can be notified in case of an emergency. A bracelet is safer for children who play than a necklace.
• Be sure to inform these people:

What do they want to know?

When informing these people, be sure to clearly state these points in writing.

• What are the things that a child is allergic to ?
• What are the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (Anaphylaxis) ? (Difficulty breathing, swelling, vomiting, fainting)
• Where is the Epinephrine Injector located? (e.g. in the child's bag, by the class teacher)
• An explanation (and training if possible) on how to use it.
• When should an ambulance (1990) be called and when should the patient be taken to the nearest Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) .

It's best to create an Emergency Action Plan that includes all of this and give everyone a copy. Talk to your doctor about this and follow his or her advice.

Allergies, Allergies in children, Anaphylaxis, Food allergy, Epinephrine, Parenting tips, Child health, Sri Lanka