Families Educating Allergy/Asthma Together
Candy Schrempp is the leader of Families Educating Allergy/Asthma Together, a local support group.
Her son, 5-year-old AJ Schrempp, has food allergies, and just started kindergarten in the Centerville School District.
We asked Candy Schrempp to tell us about her local support group.
Q: When was FEAT founded?
A: "We started our group in January 2009."
Q: Who founded FEAT?
A: "Lisa Hughes and Candy Schrempp"
Q: Why was FEAT founded?
A: "We were two mothers with sons with food allergies. My son was newly diagnosed, and Lisa's son had just started school, and we were looking for resources and others in our area that (were) dealing with the challenges of food allergies. The Dayton area did not have an active support group, so Lisa and I banned together and started FEAT. FEAT is sponsored by The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, FAAN, and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, AAFA."
Q: What is FEAT's mission?
A: "To provide continuous support and education to families who have children with food allergies and to help educate our community on food allergies"
Q: How many people are members of FEAT?
A: "We have about 40 members. We have about 10 people at our meetings."
Q: Who is eligible to become a member of FEAT?
A: "Anyone that is dealing with food allergies or anyone looking for information regarding food allergies. We do not charge for membership."
Q: Why would you tell people that they should consider joining FEAT?
A: "As with any support group, it is nice being able to talk to people that totally 'get' what you are going through. Parents that deal with food allergies are constantly hitting bumps in the road. Those bumps may be sending a child to preschool or school for the first time or the child may just be moving up a grade. What worked for one teacher and school may not work the next year. Many times kids develop additional allergies and need that support. Many times you need ideas for alternative treats and options for Halloween and Easter. Then the holidays with families are always another challenge that we can help people successfully and safely navigate. It is also a great time to exchange ideas and recipes."
Q: What are some initiatives that FEAT is working on?
A: "State legislation to allow and require schools to have a standing order epinephrine (Epinephrine injection treats life-threatening allergic reactions) available. This would allow a school to have an emergency supply of non-student specific epinephrine. Raising awareness in our schools and our communities. Encouraging schools to consider adopting no 'food' treats to be brought into schools for special occasions like birthdays."
Q: How can parents help manage their children's food allergies?
A: "Strict avoidance. Read labels every time. Always carry your medicine, which includes your EpiPen. Have a written Food Allergy Action Plan completed by your doctor. Educate your child to be an advocate for himself or herself."
Q: What else should people know about FEAT?
A: "Our support group meets once a month in the community room at The Greene. Our next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18, at 6:30 p.m."
Contact FEAT at featdayton@yahoo.com or (937) 287-5998 or visit the group on Facebook.
To find a food allergy support group near you, go to www.foodallergy.org/section/support-groups.
Advice for managing children’s food allergies
- Avoid the food allergen that causes a reaction. Elimination diets are the only proven way to manage food allergies.
- Be a detective. Know what to look for on food labels and ingredient lists.
- Find nutritionally similar products to replace the foods in your child's diet.
- Be an advocate for your child. Your job is to create a safe environment for your child. Let those around you know about food allergies and how to help your child avoid that food.
- Know that you are not alone. With a rise in food allergies, many others are dealing with similar issues. Network and find ways to make managing food allergies easier.
- Contact a registered dietitian for help avoiding food allergens and finding replacements in your child's diet. Dayton Children's has dietitians that specialize in your child's nutrition.
Source: Marisa VanSchuyver, a pediatric dietitian at Dayton Children’s Medical Center
Food allergies are a growing health problem that affects millions of people in the United States, experts say.
An estimated 15 million Americans, including about six million children, have a food allergy, according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.
From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of a reported food allergy increased 18 percent among children under age 18, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
“Food allergies are an important health issue and are on the rise,” said Marisa VanSchuyver, a pediatric dietitian at Dayton Children’s Medical Center. “Children and adults are affected and can have life threatening symptoms. Food allergies can significantly impact a child’s health and social well being. By working together to provide education to those around our children, we can decrease risk and increase their health and social outcomes.”
With the school year back in session, we asked VanSchuyver to help shed light on this growing health concern, especially in children, and offer advice for parents and the community on awareness.
Q: What is a food allergy?
A: "A food allergy is an adverse reaction that has a specific immune response each time a person is in contact with that food. Food intolerance is when an adverse reaction to a food is noted but does not cause an immune response in the body. … For example, someone may have a milk allergy in which they are allergic to the protein in milk and produce an immune system response that can be measured in blood. A person may be intolerant of milk products due to a lactase deficiency and may be able to tolerate small amounts of the food before experiencing symptoms. Food intolerances are not life threatening, whereas a food allergy can be."
Q: From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of a reported food allergy increased 18 percent among children under age 18, according to the CDC. What are the reasons for this increase?
A: "The specific cause for the rise of reported food allergies is not known. There are many theories that suggest environment, genetics, solid food introduction timing and infant feeding practices may play a part."
Q: What are the most common food allergies for children?
A: The most common food allergies in the U.S. are milk, soy, egg, wheat, peanut, tree nut, fish and seafood. However, there are increasing rates of many other foods as well."
Q: What causes a food allergy?
A: "Exposure to an allergen through ingestion or inhalation or by skin contact sensitizes the person to a specific allergen. A person may be genetically predisposed to food allergies based on family history. Once a person has exposure to an allergen, they may become sensitized; then they can show symptoms."
Q: What are the symptoms of a food allergy?
A: "Symptoms of food allergies can range from vomiting and diarrhea, skin and eye irritation, to respiratory and cardiac difficulty."
Q: What is an allergic reaction?
A: "When a specific allergen produces an immune response and causes symptoms that [are] repeated upon exposure"
Q: What causes an allergic reaction?
A: "An allergic reaction occurs when the body's immune system, or part of the body that usually fights infection, creates a protein (IgE antibodies) in response to that allergen. That causes symptoms with exposure to that food."
Q: Can a food allergy be fatal?
A: "Yes, food induced anaphylaxis (a severe, whole-body allergic reaction) can occur. This is usually a quick onset (a few minutes or a few hours) that may affect the heart's and lungs' ability to work properly and can result in death. Unfortunately, the severity of a food allergy reaction is variable and cannot be predicted by past responses. Once a food reaction occurs, there is no way to predict how severe it will become. Food induced anaphylaxis in the U.S. is the most common cause of anaphylaxis in emergency rooms and accounts for an estimated 200 deaths per year. Most commonly this type of reaction is associated with peanut, fish and shellfish, but can happen from other allergens as well."
Q: How is a food allergy diagnosed?
A: "Food allergies can be diagnosed with blood tests, skin prick testing and (a) positive history of symptoms."
Q: How is a food allergy treated?
A: "Food allergies are treated by avoidance of the specific allergen. There are many promising treatment options being investigated, but food elimination is currently the only proven approach."
Q: Can food allergies be prevented?
A: "Solid food introduction … timing early in life may play a role in the development of food allergies. Current recommendations state that infants should not be introduced to solid food until four to six months of age. Breast feeding has also been shown to reduce the risk of food allergy development. Infants ideally should be fed breast milk exclusively for the first four to six months of life. There is not sufficient evidence to suggest further delays in introduction of specific foods, for example, withholding peanuts until 2 years of age. Once solid foods have been started, the four-day rule should be applied. That means that one new food should be introduced at a time, with four days between introduction of another new food to monitor for signs of an allergy.
Q: As the school year begins, what do parents need to do to prepare their children with food allergies for each school day?
A: "Parents should inform anyone that will be caring for your child about their food allergies and what to do in case of a reaction. Look to organizations such as The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (www.foodallergy.org) for educational materials and action plans to provide to teachers, schools, restaurants and care providers."
Q: What else should people know about children's food allergies?
A: "Food allergies affect everyone. A child that has food allergies needs everyone around them to help coordinate an allergen-free environment. Be sensitive to this important topic by educating yourself and honoring the needs of children and adults with food allergies."
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