Food allergies are an increasingly prevalent diagnosis among young children and adolescents. It is a chronic condition that affects between four and eight percent of the pediatric population and requires attentive management by both caretakers and the children themselves (Annunziato, Shemesh, Weiss, Izzo, D’Urso, & Sicherer, 2013). A food allergy is an abnormal immune response that typically occurs after food enters the body and binds to specific receptors (IgE-mediated). Symptoms usually occur within hours of ingestion, and can affect the cutaneous, gastrointestinal, cardiac and/or respiratory systems (Crain, 2011). Current management includes avoidance of the offending food and emergency medications as needed. More recent studies suggest that primary care providers can help families to appropriately manage food allergies both clinically and socially through several methods of intervention. It is estimated that more than 200,000 visits to the emergency room each year are due to food allergy reactions. As reactions to food allergies can be severe and even fatal, it is important for primary care providers to take an active and serious role in patient care management. This paper reviews the current literature to determine how primary care providers can help families appropriately manage food allergies both clinically and socially. It hypothesizes that with proper management of the clinical and social implications of food allergies, by primary care providers, the incidence of severe allergic reactions in the pediatric population will be reduced.Studies suggest that the rapidly increasing number of food allergies among children could be related to improved screening, diagnosis, and recording (Waring & Levy, 2010). An important par…
…eaction, although the majority knew how to recognize and manage a severe reaction. Participants of this study cited an additional opportunity for further education for peers, because often peers do not realize how severe allergies are and can engage in teasing and bullying. This can cause much distress for both the child and caretaker. Many families of food-allergic children identify needs for mental health support to improve emotional health and quality of life (Annunziato, 2013). If providers are able to adequately address these aspects of care management, severe allergic reactions can be mediated and properly treated. There is still room for additional research that can improve food allergy management (i.e. change of provider), but at this time primary care providers need to continue actively addressing clinical and social needs of their food-allergic patients.
Best services for writing your paper according to Trustpilot
