Recently, I read a tragicstory in the news about a 7-year-old, named Ammaria Johnson,who died from a peanut allergy reaction at her elementary school in Chesterfield County, Virginia.I was saddened and angered after reading this story because food allergy deathscan be avoided. The story explained that after ingesting food that contained apeanut allergen, Ammaria complained of hives and shortness of breath. Ammaria wasnot treated with epinephrine. By the time emergency medical personnel arrivedat the school, Ammaria was in cardiac arrest and later died. Every year 150 to 200 people in the U.S. die from a food allergyreaction. In the U.S.,childhood food allergy incidence is onthe rise with an 18% increase over the last decade. This statistic is madereal by the deaths of students who have a food allergy reaction at school.
In the U.S.,nearly six million children have a foodallergy. Of those students with known food allergies, 16-18% have experienced a reaction while at school. Many of thesechildren are at risk for anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that is rapidin onset and may result in death.
The majority of deaths from food allergies at school occurbecause there is a delay in administering epinephrine, a hormone, also known asadrenaline. It is very important that when anaphylaxis symptoms occurepinephrine is administered immediately. Early administration of epinephrineimproves the chances of survival and quick recovery. Not every state, however,has laws in place that allow schools to obtain and administer a non-studentspecific prescription for epinephrine…the first-line of treatment foranaphylaxis.
Recently, the FoodAllergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) introduced a piece of legislationcalled the School Access to EmergencyEpinephrine Act, which would help put epinephrine in the hands of schoolpersonnel. It will help protect millions of students in the U.S. withlife-threatening food allergies as well as students with undiagnosed foodallergies. Studies have shown that up to 25%of epinephrine administrations in schools involved individuals with apreviously unknown allergy. This new legislation has the possibility toprevent avoidable deaths, like Ammaria’s, from occurring in schools. If youwould like more information about the Act go to FAAN’s website.
Ammaria’s death should serve as a wake up call about theneed for schools to stock epinephrine and to train employees to properly assista student who is having a life-threatening allergic reaction.