Recently, I read a tragic
story 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 deaths
can be avoided. The story explained that after ingesting food that contained a
peanut allergen, Ammaria complained of hives and shortness of breath. Ammaria was
not treated with epinephrine. By the time emergency medical personnel arrived
at the school, Ammaria was in cardiac arrest and later died. Every year 150 to 200 people in the U.S. die from a food allergy
reaction. In the U.S.,
childhood food allergy incidence is on
the rise with an 18% increase over the last decade. This statistic is made
real by the deaths of students who have a food allergy reaction at school.
In the U.S.,
nearly six million children have a food
allergy. Of those students with known food allergies, 16-18% have experienced a reaction while at school. Many of these
children are at risk for anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that is rapid
in onset and may result in death.
The majority of deaths from food allergies at school occur
because there is a delay in administering epinephrine, a hormone, also known as
adrenaline. It is very important that when anaphylaxis symptoms occur
epinephrine is administered immediately. Early administration of epinephrine
improves the chances of survival and quick recovery. Not every state, however,
has laws in place that allow schools to obtain and administer a non-student
specific prescription for epinephrine…the first-line of treatment for
anaphylaxis.
Recently, the Food
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) introduced a piece of legislation
called the School Access to Emergency
Epinephrine Act, which would help put epinephrine in the hands of school
personnel. It will help protect millions of students in the U.S. with
life-threatening food allergies as well as students with undiagnosed food
allergies. Studies have shown that up to 25%
of epinephrine administrations in schools involved individuals with a
previously unknown allergy. This new legislation has the possibility to
prevent avoidable deaths, like Ammaria’s, from occurring in schools. If you
would like more information about the Act go to FAAN’s website.
Ammaria’s death should serve as a wake up call about the
need for schools to stock epinephrine and to train employees to properly assist
a student who is having a life-threatening allergic reaction.