Allergy and Asthma

1. Allergy and Asthma Triggers at school?

2. This material was supported by the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) and funded under the cooperative agreement award number 1U61TS000118-05 from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). • Acknowledgement: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports the PEHSU by providing funds to ATSDR under Inter-Agency Agreement number DW-75-92301301-0. Neither EPA nor ATSDR endorse the purchase of any commercial products or services mentioned in PEHSU publications.

3. Continuing Education Credit UT Health Northeast is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Texas Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

4. Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest • Neither Speakers Today have Financial Disclosures or Conflicts of Interest to Disclose

5. Goals • Understand triggers for asthma and allergy • Understand why food avoidance is necessary • Recognize allergic reaction

6. Allergy • As many as 50 million people-about one in five- have allergies. This includes millions of children. • Allergic disorders rank first among children’s chronic diseases. • Allergies can affect your nose, throat, eyes, lungs, skin, stomach or intestines. • Allergic rhinitis, Non-allergic rhinitis, Asthma, Food Allergy, Food Sensitivity

7. Allergic rhinitis • Allergic rhinitis is the most common of all childhood allergies. • Runny, itchy nose • Postnasal drip • Nasal congestion • Any time of the year • Does not cause fever

8. Allergy Triggers • Pollen • Dust • Animal dander • Mold • Spicy foods • Smells • Smoke • Perfumes • Air Fresheners

9. Asthma • Chronic disease involving the airways of the lungs • The majority of children who develop asthma do so before the age of five. • In severe and poorly controlled cases, asthma can be life-threatening.

10. Asthma • Death rate and prevalence of asthma has increased significantly since the late 1970’s • If there is a single factor leading to severe or fatal asthma attacks, it appears to be a delay in administering appropriate drug therapy. • Rescue inhalers are very important.

11. Asthma Triggers • Pollen • Dust mites • Mold • Feathers • Animal dander • Some foods • Smoke • Dirt • Odors • Colds • Flu • Other illnesses • Exercise • Stress • Cold, windy weather • Sudden weather changes • Perfumes

12. Asthma signs and symptoms • Shortness of breath • Chest tightness or pain • Chronic coughing • Trouble sleeping due to coughing or wheezing

13. Anaphylaxis • Rare but severe allergic reaction • Occurs suddenly • Can worsen quickly • Can be deadly

14. Anaphylaxis Symptoms/Treatment • Sudden onset itchy, runny, sneezy allergy symptoms • Sudden onset hives • Sudden onset vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea • Sudden onset wheezing/coughing • Epipen/Auvi-Q • Call 911 • Call mom

15. What causes anaphylaxis? • Food • Stings from insects • Latex

16. Food Allergy • The most common trigger for anaphylaxis • Peanut and tree nuts • Fish and shellfish • Milk • Eggs • These account for about ½ of all anaphylaxis cases and 100 U.S. deaths each year. • Soy and wheat are also common.

18. Insect Stings • Stings from insects are the cause of about 500,000 allergy-related ER visits each year and at least 40 U.S. deaths from anaphylaxis. • Bees • Wasps • Hornets • Yellow jackets • Fire ants

19. Latex • Increased in recent years because of more common use of latex in medical products. • Children with spina bifida are at greatest risk of latex-induced anaphylaxis

20. Anaphylaxis Symptoms/Treatment • Sudden onset itchy, runny, sneezy allergy symptoms • Sudden onset hives • Sudden onset vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea • Sudden onset wheezing/coughing • Epipen/Auvi-Q • Call 911 • Call mom

21. Allergies at school • School pets: furry animals may cause problems for allergic children. • PE: asthmatic children should be able to participate, but they may need to pre-medicate with rescue inhaler. • Dust: allergic children may need to sit away from the blackboards. • Smells: Scentsy and other air fresheners may cause problems for allergy and asthma kiddos. • Snacks: must be allergen free if you have a student who is allergic.

27. Sources • American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology • www.aaaai.org • American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology • www.acaai.org • National Environmental Education Foundation • www.neefusa.org • National Association of School Nurses • www.nasn.org/toolsresources/asthma • Southwest Center for Pediatric Environmental Health • www.swcpeh.org

28. Discussion • How this all makes sense…….

29. Resources and Credit • Materials will be sent to emails provided at registration • If you did not pre-register email shannon.cox@uthct.edu • Evaluation must be returned to receive certificate of completion