Health Quick Tip: Help Your Child Cope With Food Allergies – by: News Canada

(NC)-Some children have problems with certain foods, ranging from mild intolerances to life-threatening ana-phylactic shock. Indeed, any food can trigger an allergic reaction, with the most common being cow’s milk, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish and shellfish, soy and wheat products. And while not all reactions are life-threatening, it is important to note that children often need to be exposed to the allergen more than once before a serious reaction appears. Certain allergens, for example, peanut, are more commonly associated with severe reactions, but any food can cause anaphylaxis. If there are any concerns, consultation with a doctor, qualified in allergic reactions, is recommended.

Most parents know that if their child has been diagnosed by an allergist to be at risk for a severe reaction, injectable adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, must be administered rapidly, no matter how mild the early symptoms appear. Many admit however that they need more help when it comes to the best, and most effective plan-of-action.

As part of a nationwide initiative to answer pressing questions on anaphylaxis, a special pharmacist-directed, Health-Watch for Children Day is planned at 800 Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations, on Thursday, Sept. 19. Pharma-cists at these locations will conduct a one-on-one educational session with allergic individuals, parents, or caregivers of children with food, and other potentially life-threatening allergies. The sessions will include a demonstration on how to administer the medication with an auto-injector; how to recognize early symptoms; and what to do should an anaphylactic reaction occur.

Anaphylaxis Canada, and Association Quebecois des Allergies Alimentaires have endorsed the Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix initiative on this important health focus, and suggest that the Sept. 19 information day will go a long way to provide information and clarification. Contact your local Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix for an appointment.

About The Author News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

You Asked: Food Allergies Explained – by: News Canada

(NC)-Life-threatening allergies (anaphylaxis) may affect more than 600,000 Canadians, a number that has increased dramatically in just one decade. Foods account for most cases of anaphylaxis in children, whereas drugs are more often the cause with increasing age. For potentially life-threatening reactions, injectable adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, should be administered rapidly, no matter how mild the early symptoms appear. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on anaphylaxis:

Q: What are the triggers of anaphylaxis?

A: The most common causes in the North American population include foods, drugs, insect stings and natural latex rubber. Peanut is the food allergen most commonly associated with life-threatening reactions, but any food can trigger anaphylaxis in a sensitive individual.

Q: What is the difference between anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions?

A: While many of the initial symptoms of anaphylaxis may be similar to milder allergic reactions (itchy eyes, hives) anaphylaxis is characterized by involvement of more than one body system and, usually a rapid progression of symptoms that can lead to death. If there has been a past history of anaphylaxis, it is safest to assume that the reaction will again lead to anaphylaxis and give epinephrine at the earliest sign.

Q: What is the best plan-of-action in the event of anaphylaxis?

A: Learn as much as possible about recognizing the symptoms, how to be ready, and how to administer the medication with an auto-injector. Even when symptoms are mild, if you suspect your child was exposed to a trigger, it is important to immediately inject epinephrine, and then head straight to a medical facility. A dose of epinephrine lasts for only 10 to 20 minutes, so patients should carry a separate dose for each 15 minutes of travel time to a medical facility, to be administered only if symptoms persist. Other precautions include: checking the expiry date on the medication, and for a change in its colour; making sure that your child care providers, teachers and other adults know about the child’s allergy; wearing a Medic-Alert bracelet or necklace indicating the allergy; checking food labels carefully, and asking about menu ingredients at restaurants.

As part of a nationwide initiative to answer pressing questions on anaphylaxis, a special pharmacist-directed, HealthWatch for Children Day is planned at 800 Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations, on Thursday, Sept. 19. Just ask your HealthWatch pharmacist for an appointment. Or, if you miss this information day but have questions on allergies, be sure to direct them to your doctor, or to any HealthWatch pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix.

About The Author News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Back to School : What is a food allergy? What can you do? – by: News Canada

(NC)-Food allergies are becoming more prevalent every day. Severe reactions can be life threatening if not treated immediately. In many cases, a dangerous breathing condition called anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-lak-sis) can result when a substance to which the casualty is very sensitive enters the body.

Anaphylaxis can happen within seconds, minutes or even hours of a substance entering the body. As a rule, the sooner the casualty’s body reacts, the worse the reaction will be.

St. John Ambulance, Canada’s leader in safety-oriented™ first aid training and products, advises that you can detect anaphylaxis and help the casualty, if you know what to do.

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis

1. Itchy, flushed skin, raised skin rash (hives).
2. Sneezing, running nose and watery eyes.
3. Swelling of the airway.
4. A ‘lump’ or ‘tickle’ in the throat that won’t go away.
5. Coughing.
6. Sense of impending doom.
7. Nausea and vomiting.

As the condition worsens, a casualty may experience:

1. Pale skin.
2. Anxiety and/or a severe headache.
3. Wheezing and breathing difficulties, coughing.
4. Irregular and rapid pulse.
5. Swelling of lips, tongue, throat, hands and feet.
6. Shock.
7. Unconsciousness followed by stopped breathing and heart.

First aid for a severe allergic reaction

When a casualty experiences a severe allergic reaction, they are in a life-threatening situation.

1. Assess the individual and immediately call for medical help.
2. Stop any activity and place the casualty in the most comfortable position for breathing – usually sitting upright.
3. Some people with known allergies carry medication in the event of an attack. If the individual has prescribed medicine with them, help them take a correct dosage.
4. Stay with the casualty until medical help takes over. Monitor vital signs and try to calm and reassure the casualty, as fear and anxiety will make the condition worse.

Knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. St. John Ambulance offers a wide range of programs, customized for all walks of life and skill levels. Learn what you need to know from Canada’s leader in first aid for more than 118 years. Contact the St. John Ambulance office nearest you or look us up on the Internet at www.sja.ca.

About The Author News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Amphetamine and Stroke Recovery – by: News Canada

(NC)-Animals that have suffered a stroke recover faster and to a greater extent when they are treated with amphetamine, but it’s unclear whether the drug will have the same effect in humans. Dr. Sandra Black and her team at the Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre are conducting tests to determine whether patients treated with amphetamine recover better from paralysis, sensory loss, language deficits and other effects of stroke. The researchers will use magnetic resonance imaging to detect how the brain recovers from stroke and how amphetamine affects this recovery. This research could lead to new stroke treatments.

Dr. Black’s research is being funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). CIHR is Canada’s preeminent health research catalyst and is funded by the government of Canada. An exciting new concept, CIHR is modernizing and transforming the health research enterprise in Canada.

To learn more about CIHR please visit: www.cihr.ca, e-mail: info@cihr.ca or write to: CIHR, 410 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa ON K1A 0W9.

About The Author News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.