Happy Valley Elementary

School Newsletter

Food allergies are often dismissed as someone else’s problem.  But specialists estimate that about 6 percent of school children have food allergies.  At Happy Valley, that works out to be approximately 28 kids.  The top eight allergies are to dairy, egg, soy, fish, shellfish, wheat, tree nuts, and peanuts.  An allergic reaction is an immune system response and is diagnosed by a doctor.  Increased amounts of antibody IgE over responds to an offending protein as if the body is under attack.  Allergic reactions include one or all of the following symptoms: hives, swollen tongue and lips, asthma, vomiting, and diarrhea.  Food intolerance may cause some gastronomical difficulties, but does not involve the immune system and thus does not induce a life-threatening situation such as an anaphylactic reaction.  Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction that can involve the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system.  Symptoms can be mild to life threatening.  The cure for a food allergy is complete avoidance of the offending proteins.  This can be quite a prescription for school children constantly surrounded by off-limits snacks.  All parents wish for their children to be successful in school.  But parents of children with food allergies wish for their children to be successful and safe from life threatening situations at school.  Awareness and understanding of this predicament can only help keep our 28 Happy Valley students safe.