{"id":733,"date":"2023-02-07T16:21:12","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T16:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.topsfieldschools.org\/?p=733"},"modified":"2023-02-07T16:22:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T16:22:00","slug":"peanut-and-tree-nut-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.topsfieldschools.org\/peanut-and-tree-nut-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Peanut and Tree Nut Allergies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Food allergies have become a serious concern, with approximately 32 million<\/a> Americans suffering from them. Among the eight major food allergens, peanut and tree nut allergies are considered to be unique and more severe. Peanuts are a staple food in many households, but for some individuals, they can also be a potential threat. Peanut allergies are one of the most common food allergens that can lead to a serious and life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A. Whole Body Reactions:<\/strong> Peanut and tree nut allergies are different from other food allergies as they can cause whole-body reactions from exposure to as little as 1\/10th of a peanut. This is because reactions can occur from the residue and dust of both tree nuts and peanuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n B. Lifelong Allergies:<\/strong> Peanut and tree nut allergies are generally considered to be lifelong allergies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is Anaphylaxi<\/strong>s: Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that occurs within the whole body. If not treated quickly with epinephrine, it can be fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Symptoms of Anaphylaxis:<\/strong> Common symptoms of anaphylaxis include a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and throat, difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure, abdominal cramps, loss of consciousness, and death. Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after exposure and immediate medical attention is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emergency Treatment: <\/strong>The emergency treatment for anaphylaxis includes an injection of epinephrine<\/a> to open up the airway and blood vessels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preventing Exposure: <\/strong>To provide a safe environment for all students, it is recommended not to send peanut or nut products to school. If peanut or nut products are sent, remind your child to sit at the nut end of the table and to wash their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daily Precautions:<\/strong> If your child eats a peanut or nut product for breakfast, have them wash their hands and face prior to leaving home. Have your child wash their hands prior to reading library books and do not store them near nut or peanut products. Do not send party food that contains nut or peanut products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Definition:<\/strong> A peanut is a vegetable from the legume family, while a tree nut is a fruit and typically a hard, dry, closed one-seeded fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of Tree Nuts:<\/strong> Examples of tree nuts include walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, and pistachios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Advice: <\/strong>Although peanuts and tree nuts are not biologically related, there seems to be a high level of allergic cross-reactivity between peanuts and tree nuts. Hence, anyone with a peanut allergy is advised to avoid tree nuts (and vice versa).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coconut: <\/strong>Coconut is the seed of a fruit, but it is generally not restricted from the diet of tree-nut-allergic people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nutmeg and Water Chestnuts: <\/strong>Nutmeg and water chestnuts are not nuts and do not need to be avoided by tree-nut-allergic people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Makes Peanut and Tree Nut Allergies So Serious?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms and Treatment for An Anaphylactic Reaction<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Providing a Safe Environment for All Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Difference Between Peanut and Tree Nut <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cross-Reactivity between Peanuts and Tree Nuts <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Coconut and Nutmeg – Are they Nuts? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Common Foods that Contain Peanuts and\/or Tree Nuts <\/h2>\n\n\n\n