Food Allergy in School Age Children Research Assignment (Research Paper Sample)

Food Allergy in School Age Children
Allergies are reactions by the body which are triggered when exposed to specific allergens such as dust, pollen or food. One of the most common types of food allergy is the peanut allergy. When severe, peanut allergies can cause a potentially fatal reaction called anaphylaxis. The number of attacks for this type of allergy has risen over the years. Children are usually the ones suffering from these attacks since they cannot prepare the food they eat on their own. With this, school nurses play an important role to prevent and keep the children safe from the triggering factors and having attacks inside the school.
As a school nurse, it is essential to know first the causes, signs and symptoms of having a peanut allergy and the different treatments for it. Since it is a food allergy, it is important to notify the staff in the cafeteria and the teachers of Jimmy to prevent the consumption of any food with peanut. The cook in the cafeteria should be aware of the list of ingredients and common food served that might contain the peanut protein which triggers the allergy. Aside from notifying the cafeteria staff and teachers, it is also important to identify the list of students who are allergic to peanuts. This may be easier if Jimmy and other students wear a wristband indicating that they have food allergy so it will be easier for the staff to know if a particular food is safe for them to eat or not. Another preventive measure is to have designated tables where peanuts can be eaten and the rest of the place is peanut-free. This kind of setting is best to ensure that the children with allergies are not exposed to the allergens while having fun with friends and not feel isolated.
Educating the students and all the workers in school about the causes, symptoms, and how to treat food allergies, specifically peanut allergy, is also a way to ensure that everyone especially the workers inside the school are aware and knowledgeable when a student is experiencing an attack. Teaching the staff how to treat the allergy is also useful especially when the school nurse is not around. Epinephrine auto-injector is usually used in treating an allergy. It is recommended for students with allergy to always have an injector and for every room inside the school to have a quick access to it. An Emergency Action Plan is necessary to avoid panic when a student had an attack and also to guide everyone how to use the auto-injector.
In this case, the “System Model” developed by Betty Neuman and the “Community/Public Health” standard of school nursing practice are being applied. The System Model states that the concern of nursing is to prevent stress invasion...