Medical conditions and allergies
As a child care assistant, you need a knowledge of common children’s medical conditions, including allergies, as they could cause serious illness if not managed correctly.
An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system reacts to something that is harmless to most of the population. Reactions can range from mild to severe. Children can be allergic to food, environmental elements (eg pollen or bee stings) or medication. The most frequent food allergens are eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat.
Some of the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction are nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhoea, difficulty breathing, sneezing, itching, swelling and rashes on the skin.
Food intolerances are sometimes confused with food allergies. Food intolerances can have similar signs and symptoms but don’t involve the immune system in response to the allergen.
Some allergy-triggered medical conditions that children could have are lactose intolerance, coeliac disease, diabetes and asthma.
Go to The Royal Children’s Hospital website at www.rch.org.au and click on Kids health info for parents to find out more about children’s allergies and medical conditions.
A severe allergy (where it is life-threatening) is called anaphylaxis. In these cases the trigger (allergen) can cause children’s lips and throat to become swollen and airways can become blocked. This makes it difficult for them to breathe and they become very distressed. This can occur within minutes after the child has had contact with the trigger or up to a couple of hours later. As soon as signs are evident immediate action must be taken as the child’s health can deteriorate very quickly and even result in death.
Food triggers can be nuts or any foods that have nut products in them, eggs or seafood. Other triggers known to cause an anaphylactic attack are latex and bee stings.
These types of allergies in children are on the rise compared to previous generations. It is crucial that as carers we recognise the symptoms and act immediately.
It is essential that child care staff are aware of any children in their care with medical conditions and/or allergies in order to keep them safe and healthy.
Click onto the following link to read the legislation and information for your state/territory, including how to recognise this severe form of allergic reaction and what to do www.allergyfacts.org.au/schools.html.
