Managing peanut allergy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re…”surprised” that people who have kids with potentially FATAL allergies are so vigilant? That takes you by surprise? WTAF?

I get it if your kid has a severe allergy, but I don't view mine as a severe (at least based on what our allergist has said, lack of accidental exposures, freely eating out at restaurants, etc.) I will be more vigilant and carry the epi-pens, but I'm not planning on going overboard like making people around me stop eating peanuts. My kid knows to be careful.

LOL, OK. So your kid has been making sure to have an epi-pen kit with her at play dates, takes it to every restaurant, and talks to servers and restaurant managers about her allergy? Wow. Impressive! At such a young age.

It’s also amazing that your kid understands that even mild allergies can become severe with no warning, especially when there are exposures over time. It’s wonderful that she realizes that even though she has not had a severe reaction as of yet, it could be a severe reaction at any time. Interesting that she knows that when you didn’t seem to know that.

Um, why are you so angry? I didn't say any of the above. All I meant is my kid knows she's allergic to peanuts, not to eat peanuts, and to ask questions if she doesn't know if something has peanuts or not. She doesn't eat at restaurants without us and yes we tell the servers that she's allergic. It's worked out fine for 6 years.

OK, you don’t even carry epi pens with you, but you have alllll the answers!

May the odds be ever in her favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

I don't know if you are confused or just acting confused. The comments about anxiety were directed at the idea of making sure on peanuts are present anywhere in the child's environment (the plane, etc.). I think most parents of peanut allergic kids are very aware that eating them is bad, eating them accidentally is bad, epi-pens are necessary, and no they are not perfect every time. That's why you carry 2 and go to the hospital right away. There can be rebound reactions.

[Anonymous]

There was a thread on here last year or the year before, I think, about peanut products at playgrounds. The OP was trying to convince people not to bring peanut products to playground at all, even if they ate consuming them far from others, because trace amounts could transfer to the playground equipment. It was an extremely contentious thread.

I'm not going to take sides in that debate (I can see both sides) but it's a good example of how varied the attitude about peanuts in public places are, even spaces intended for kids. There will always be people who push back against rules and recommendations to avoid common allergen exposures.

As a result, I just assume that it is not possible to completely avoid tree nuts. I assume they will make their way even into our school, which is nut free and fairly vigilant about it. If your kid is not allergic, you just will never be as vigilant of someone whose kid is allergic. So the onus will always be on us to make sure our kid has the tools to stay safe. That means Epipen at all times, OIT, etc. Don't assume other people will take care of your kid or work to prevent a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

Just because you see things on the news doesn't mean it happens "regularly". It can still be very rare. Which isn't to say it's not important to be prepared but some of the posters in this thread (may not be you - I don't know who is posting what) are doing things that I personally don't think we need to do, such as making sure there are no peanuts on a plane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

Just because you see things on the news doesn't mean it happens "regularly". It can still be very rare. Which isn't to say it's not important to be prepared but some of the posters in this thread (may not be you - I don't know who is posting what) are doing things that I personally don't think we need to do, such as making sure there are no peanuts on a plane.

“Rare” only has to happen once to an allergic person.

And there’s a big difference between peanuts somewhere on an aircraft and in the very next row.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

Just because you see things on the news doesn't mean it happens "regularly". It can still be very rare. Which isn't to say it's not important to be prepared but some of the posters in this thread (may not be you - I don't know who is posting what) are doing things that I personally don't think we need to do, such as making sure there are no peanuts on a plane.

“Rare” only has to happen once to an allergic person.

And there’s a big difference between peanuts somewhere on an aircraft and in the very next row.

https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/can-simply-smelling-peanuts-cause-an-allergic-reaction/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

Just because you see things on the news doesn't mean it happens "regularly". It can still be very rare. Which isn't to say it's not important to be prepared but some of the posters in this thread (may not be you - I don't know who is posting what) are doing things that I personally don't think we need to do, such as making sure there are no peanuts on a plane.

“Rare” only has to happen once to an allergic person.

And there’s a big difference between peanuts somewhere on an aircraft and in the very next row.

https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/can-simply-smelling-peanuts-cause-an-allergic-reaction/

For those who do not want to read the link here is the highlight:

Take a deep breath and relax. Even if you are allergic to peanuts, touching, smelling or inhaling particles from peanuts cannot cause an allergic reaction—at least not the serious, life-threatening type that everyone with a peanut allergy fears. You are not in danger unless you eat them.

[Anonymous]

Hi. I work in allergy and I'm grateful for the varied experiences discussed here. I hope I can provide a little later clarity where we're at now in the food allergy world.

~30% of peanut allergic babies/toddlers will outgrow their peanut allergy just based on their own immune system. If a child in this group was on OIT to help support that natural outgrowth and did outgrow it, they likely don't need to carry an epi device.

The window for outgrowth closes as the child gets older and quicker than most people would expect. Food avoidance in a child that would have outgrown the allergy often causes it to convert to persistent allergy (ie. lifelong).

Okay so once we're dealing with persistent allergy, that child should have an epi device available at all times (lots of great options here!). But yes, all forms of therapy- avoidance, OIT, Palforzia (form of OIT), and Xolair ALL still need for the child to have epi available. I know some you may understand something different from your allergist, but this is the standard of care.

OP perhaps what I'd like to impress is your child's immune system and their food allergy at 6 are not static, there is some elasticity. That means two things-- if you would consider OIT or Palforzia sooner is likely to be more successful. Second, the mild reactions up until now truly can't be counted on to stay the same. Epi and an anaphylaxis allergy plan should be part of you child's management. Please check in with your allergist if you have any questions about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

Just because you see things on the news doesn't mean it happens "regularly". It can still be very rare. Which isn't to say it's not important to be prepared but some of the posters in this thread (may not be you - I don't know who is posting what) are doing things that I personally don't think we need to do, such as making sure there are no peanuts on a plane.

“Rare” only has to happen once to an allergic person.

And there’s a big difference between peanuts somewhere on an aircraft and in the very next row.

https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/can-simply-smelling-peanuts-cause-an-allergic-reaction/

For those who do not want to read the link here is the highlight:

Take a deep breath and relax. Even if you are allergic to peanuts, touching, smelling or inhaling particles from peanuts cannot cause an allergic reaction—at least not the serious, life-threatening type that everyone with a peanut allergy fears. You are not in danger unless you eat them.

My kids aren't allergic to anything, but this seems like an under-reaction: “If they’re too young to know not to share foods, then that might be the one time where an actual separated table (for children with peanut allergies) could make sense,” Dr. Kim says. “But as they get older and you feel like they have learned this and can control their instincts, there’s no reason they can’t sit alongside their friends.”

I've heard the most dangerous time for allergies is teenage years. It only takes once not thinking, trying to be polite, or mistakenly relying on a label you've read in the past or a restaurant that's been safe in the past. People with severe allergies should being their own food and/or check every label every time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi. I work in allergy and I'm grateful for the varied experiences discussed here. I hope I can provide a little later clarity where we're at now in the food allergy world.

~30% of peanut allergic babies/toddlers will outgrow their peanut allergy just based on their own immune system. If a child in this group was on OIT to help support that natural outgrowth and did outgrow it, they likely don't need to carry an epi device.

The window for outgrowth closes as the child gets older and quicker than most people would expect. Food avoidance in a child that would have outgrown the allergy often causes it to convert to persistent allergy (ie. lifelong).

Okay so once we're dealing with persistent allergy, that child should have an epi device available at all times (lots of great options here!). But yes, all forms of therapy- avoidance, OIT, Palforzia (form of OIT), and Xolair ALL still need for the child to have epi available. I know some you may understand something different from your allergist, but this is the standard of care.

OP perhaps what I'd like to impress is your child's immune system and their food allergy at 6 are not static, there is some elasticity. That means two things-- if you would consider OIT or Palforzia sooner is likely to be more successful. Second, the mild reactions up until now truly can't be counted on to stay the same. Epi and an anaphylaxis allergy plan should be part of you child's management. Please check in with your allergist if you have any questions about this.

This so much, this is super helpful. Can you say more about the part about food avoidance causing it to convert to a persistent allergy? Are you just saying that by doing OIT, you can help them outgrow it possibly, but if you just stay with avoidance, then it could become persistent? Is 6 on the older side of when it will likely be effective?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

Just because you see things on the news doesn't mean it happens "regularly". It can still be very rare. Which isn't to say it's not important to be prepared but some of the posters in this thread (may not be you - I don't know who is posting what) are doing things that I personally don't think we need to do, such as making sure there are no peanuts on a plane.

“Rare” only has to happen once to an allergic person.

And there’s a big difference between peanuts somewhere on an aircraft and in the very next row.

https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/can-simply-smelling-peanuts-cause-an-allergic-reaction/

For those who do not want to read the link here is the highlight:

Take a deep breath and relax. Even if you are allergic to peanuts, touching, smelling or inhaling particles from peanuts cannot cause an allergic reaction—at least not the serious, life-threatening type that everyone with a peanut allergy fears. You are not in danger unless you eat them.

My kids aren't allergic to anything, but this seems like an under-reaction: “If they’re too young to know not to share foods, then that might be the one time where an actual separated table (for children with peanut allergies) could make sense,” Dr. Kim says. “But as they get older and you feel like they have learned this and can control their instincts, there’s no reason they can’t sit alongside their friends.”

I've heard the most dangerous time for allergies is teenage years. It only takes once not thinking, trying to be polite, or mistakenly relying on a label you've read in the past or a restaurant that's been safe in the past. People with severe allergies should being their own food and/or check every label every time.

Are you suggesting that teenagers not eat with their friends or never eat out in restaurants? I'm not following.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

I don't know if you are confused or just acting confused. The comments about anxiety were directed at the idea of making sure on peanuts are present anywhere in the child's environment (the plane, etc.). I think most parents of peanut allergic kids are very aware that eating them is bad, eating them accidentally is bad, epi-pens are necessary, and no they are not perfect every time. That's why you carry 2 and go to the hospital right away. There can be rebound reactions.

You can't go to a hospital right away on a plane. The issue with eating nuts on a plane is that you literally can leave the dust anywhere. Again this is totally on the allergic person to have great thanks hygiene, wipe their seat and armsrests etc.

I think the plane part is amplified because once you're in the air and you give an epi and it doesn't work and you give another that's it.

Ingestion is 100 the danger. You can still ingest things you haven't directly eaten if that makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

I don't know if you are confused or just acting confused. The comments about anxiety were directed at the idea of making sure on peanuts are present anywhere in the child's environment (the plane, etc.). I think most parents of peanut allergic kids are very aware that eating them is bad, eating them accidentally is bad, epi-pens are necessary, and no they are not perfect every time. That's why you carry 2 and go to the hospital right away. There can be rebound reactions.

You can't go to a hospital right away on a plane. The issue with eating nuts on a plane is that you literally can leave the dust anywhere. Again this is totally on the allergic person to have great thanks hygiene, wipe their seat and armsrests etc.

I think the plane part is amplified because once you're in the air and you give an epi and it doesn't work and you give another that's it.

Ingestion is 100 the danger. You can still ingest things you haven't directly eaten if that makes sense.

This does not explain why you need people seated in another row not to eat peanuts. Wipe down your own seat and armrests. I think next will be what about the bathrooms. I guess go ahead of your kid to the bathroom and wipe down the surfaces in case some peanut eater went in there before you. (Mind you I do not think this is required. But trying to get on board with your thinking.)

And yes I have a peanut allergic kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to carry at least two Epi pens everywhere, in case one malfunctions or the ambulance is delayed in coming. As soon as the child is able they need to carry two themselves. Be sure they know how to use them. Practice regularly with the trainer.

We always also have albuterol and Benadryl.

Ask the allergist when to use. One PP said use upon two symptoms. Ours said use upon confirmed exposure even if asymptomatic.

If you use epinephrine the person needs to go by ambulance to the emergency room.

Epi pens are not magic talismans. They don’t always work. They sometimes need to be repeated.

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate about allergies as soon as possible. Teach them to read every label every time. Ingredients change. No unlabeled or homemade outside snacks. Send your own treats to school. Be very particular in restaurants. Be aware of potential language issues — we were assured that a bakery product contained no nuts. Then informed “only nut flour” when we asked a second time.

They need to be aware of environmental contamination. Like the kid in class who brings a peanut butter sandwich and then uses a finger to scrape out and eat the peanut butter. Or the contaminated trash in a cafeteria trash can. Or the person one row away in an aircraft who is eating peanuts.

I believe there is a sensitivity-reducing shot and desensitization treatments. We are not there yet, so I leave it to others with knowledge to discuss them.

I have a 12 year old peanut allergic kid and agree with most of this with a couple caveats and can add some info about OIT.

As to bolded, some kids really are not this sensitive to peanuts in their environment. Mine isn't. We eat peanut butter in our household. My kid has zero sensitivity to being near peanuts. I understand some kids do. But this is an added level of hyper-vigilance that isn't necessary for some kids.

We did the OIT and it worked. The part I didn't anticipate is my child HATES HATES HATES the taste of peanuts. This makes sense. Her body is trained to really dislike the thing that is going to make her sick. However, when you get to the end the maintenane is eating some amount of peanut daily. We tried all vehicles. The peanut, some peanut butter, a peanut m&m, a reeses pieces. She hated all of them. She was about 10 at the time we did this. It was a nightly battle and we just gave up. I could not see sustaining forcing her to eat something she hated. I think with an older kid it could be eaiser.

As to the follow up bolded, without claiming any scientific/literature based special knowledge, I suggest it is extremely dangerous to be casual about any level of potential exposure. I don’t think it is “hyper vigilance.”

The example given was someone in the next row on an airplane eating peanuts and "contaminated" trash in a trashcan at school. What is your plan for these scenarios? Wear a hazmat suit in the plane and tell your child not to dumpster dive in the trash?

I think a reasonable warning is to say if your friend is eating a peanut butter sandwich, be aware and don't share any utensils or plates.

The plan for the airplane was to ask the person to stop and put the product away or get rid of it. And we did exactly that with good result when it happened.

As for the trash the real concern was that DC’s school had students in groups to clean up after lunch. We asked for an assignment that didn’t involve food residues or trash.

I think this level of vigilance is about your own anxiety level and wanting to assert a level of control over your environment that you don't really have. And I think it makes your kid anxious too.

Read labels, speak up, teach the kid to advocate for themselves. Hammer it home early and often. In particular, do not eat unwrapped candy or baked goods where you don't know the origin. Carry the epi pen at all times. The rest of it, you can't control other people. People around you can and will eat peanuts.

I suspect you don’t have an allergy either.

Nobody in their right mind eats peanuts on public transit any more.

As for the lunchroom, you’re suggesting not handling peanut-contaminated items is anxiety-driven? Please.

What is the peanut-contaminated item? If the "peanut-contaminated" item is a trashcan where someone might have thrown out the remnant of their peanut butter sandwich, seems kind of anxiety driven. If it's a plate smeared with peanut butter and it's a young child who doesn't have a lot of awareness yet, makes more sense.

People can be very bad at risk assessment. I guarantee your kid does a bunch of things daily that are a lot more risky than being around a trash can with a peanut butter sandwich in it.

I don’t think it is “anxiety driven” for a person with a life threaten allergy to want to avoid accidentally getting contaminated and then transferring the contamination to where they might ingest it. Because people touch their mouths, etc., and don’t always surgery-scrub beforehand. That other life risks exist is irrelevant. One avoids what one reasonably can. What would be your view if the concern was a chemical that might find its way somewhere, as in the case where somebody carelessly threw a rag soaked with turpentine or anotherindustrial solvent into a trash can?

I agree with this. The part I don't agree with is the assessment that someone throwing their peanut butter sandwich in a trash can could somehow transfer to you (or your kid) and you might ingest it. To give the benefit of the doubt, you are envisioning a world where the peanut butter is dragged down the inside of the trashcan and then you (or your kid) subsequently touch or hold onto that same side of the trashcan. That's the scenario? I'm just not operating in that head space that I think that is happening.

I can't really respond to equating a peanut butter sandwich to a turpentine soaked rag.

The peanut butter actually is more dangerous to an allergic person. But getting that across is, as the discussion here demonstrates, extremely difficult. People seem incapable of comprehending that their tasty treat could kill someone. And peanut butter is like baby poop — once it’s on one thing it’s everywhere.

I'm not sure if you are the same poster above who seems super anxious, but can you give some more context as to where your views are coming from? Did you know someone who died from a peanut allergy? Does your kid get a reaction from just being in the same room as someone with peanuts or other allergen? I understand being careful and putting the right protocols in place, but a peanut allergy isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure, kids unexpectedly get severe allergic reactions but I'm sure it's not that common (especially death). There's a difference between being careful and freaking out about it. Do you also not like to drive on highways in case you get killed in a car accident?

People die regularly from allergy-related anaphylaxis. Just read the news. They’re not dropping like soldiers at D-day but it certainly is not heard of. I recall a bee-related case not long ago in the news, and another that I think was food related. In the latter case epinephrine reportedly failed. Maybe they got it into the person too late.

I think accusations of “anxiety” are actually projections by people who don’t want to accept that they may have ignored a precaution they easily could be taking.

I drive on highways all the time. I also bought a car with high safety ratings, use the safety devices, keep it in good repair, and took accident avoidance training to improve my skills.

There’s a vast difference between avoiding known dangers and “freaking out.” Just as there is a vast difference between prudent risk assessment and Pollyannish refusal to acknowledge potential dangers.

Just because you see things on the news doesn't mean it happens "regularly". It can still be very rare. Which isn't to say it's not important to be prepared but some of the posters in this thread (may not be you - I don't know who is posting what) are doing things that I personally don't think we need to do, such as making sure there are no peanuts on a plane.

“Rare” only has to happen once to an allergic person.

And there’s a big difference between peanuts somewhere on an aircraft and in the very next row.

https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/can-simply-smelling-peanuts-cause-an-allergic-reaction/

For those who do not want to read the link here is the highlight:

Take a deep breath and relax. Even if you are allergic to peanuts, touching, smelling or inhaling particles from peanuts cannot cause an allergic reaction—at least not the serious, life-threatening type that everyone with a peanut allergy fears. You are not in danger unless you eat them.

My kids aren't allergic to anything, but this seems like an under-reaction: “If they’re too young to know not to share foods, then that might be the one time where an actual separated table (for children with peanut allergies) could make sense,” Dr. Kim says. “But as they get older and you feel like they have learned this and can control their instincts, there’s no reason they can’t sit alongside their friends.”

I've heard the most dangerous time for allergies is teenage years. It only takes once not thinking, trying to be polite, or mistakenly relying on a label you've read in the past or a restaurant that's been safe in the past. People with severe allergies should being their own food and/or check every label every time.

Are you suggesting that teenagers not eat with their friends or never eat out in restaurants? I'm not following.

I meant I wouldn't rely on a young child not to share foods. They can "understand" that concept but not really understand the implications or control their impulsivity and desire to please others. With an allergy, compliance is more important than, for instance, not wanting your kid to have too much candy or share foods you don't approve of in general.

The teenager thing was somewhat of a separate thought, but related in terms of parents should be vigilant so by the time they are teens they are very familiar with what they can and can't eat, how to read labels, and what questions to ask anyone serving them food so they are able to continue the vigilance. My friend whose teens have multiple allergies agrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does her allergist say?

If the answer is that she doesn’t have one then yes, you need to take this more seriously.

Don't worry, she has an allergist and we have an epi-pen at home and school, but I don't carry it around everywhere (or have her carry it around). I don't remember the allergist saying specifically to bring it everywhere, but I guess that would make sense.

Come on OP.

My kid had anaphylaxis for the first time eating out, something that had been safe many times. I was very glad to have an epi with us. She needed another in the ER, then a course of steroids. It was terrifying watching her mouth and tongue swell.

Your attitude of wanting to minimize it and any extra demands could cost your daughter her life. Why have epis that are not with her?