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Parent reported allergy and anaphylaxis in 4173 South Australian children
1University of Adelaide Department of Paediatrics, Women's and Children's Hospital, Australia. tboros@medicine.adelaide.edu.au
Insights
Many children experience allergies and anaphylaxis. However, schools often lack adequate first aid, with two-thirds of allergic children missing emergency medication or trained staff at school.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Parent-reported allergy and anaphylaxis prevalence in children is a growing concern.
- Effective first aid management in educational settings is crucial for child safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of parent-reported allergy and anaphylaxis in South Australian children aged 3-17 years.
- To investigate the adequacy of first aid management for anaphylaxis in schools and preschools.
Main Methods:
- A study surveyed 4173 South Australian children (aged 3-17) regarding parent-reported allergy and anaphylaxis.
- Telephone questionnaires verified anaphylaxis cases, causes, severity, and school first aid protocols.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of parent-reported allergy was 7.3% and anaphylaxis was 0.59% per 100 children.
- Two-thirds of children with anaphylaxis lacked emergency medication, action plans, or trained staff at school.
Conclusions:
- A significant number of children attending schools/preschools have a history of anaphylaxis.
- First aid provisions for managing childhood anaphylaxis in educational institutions are frequently insufficient.
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of parent reported allergy and anaphylaxis in a sample of children and to investigate the first aid management of anaphylaxis in the schools and preschools that these children attend.
Methods:
The study sample comprised 4173 South Australian children aged 3-17 years. Information was collected regarding parent-reported allergy and anaphylaxis. All children with known anaphylaxis were contacted and an attempt was made to contact those with reports of allergy to ascertain if these children had anaphylaxis. A telephone questionnaire was used to verify reports of anaphylaxis and determine the cause, severity and school first aid management of anaphylaxis.
Results:
The rate of parent reported allergy and anaphylaxis was 7.3 and 0.59 per 100 children, respectively. Two-thirds of children with anaphylaxis did not have emergency medication available at school, an emergency action plan, or a teacher on site able to administer adrenaline for first aid use.
Conclusions:
Children attending preschool or school may have had a past history of anaphylaxis. Arrangements for first aid management of these children while in this environment are often inadequate.