Protecting Kids with Nut Allergies during the Holidays

The hustle and bustle of trying to travel during the holiday season is challenging enough, but adding kids into the mix is an added layer of stress. From the tension of trying to get through airport security to keeping your kids entertained in the car, staying in the holiday spirit isn’t easy. Trying to protect a child who suffers from nut allergies in a variety of foreign environments can be overwhelming. However, there are steps you can take to keep things under control and protect your child.

Dr. Sean Cahill, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, recommends planning ahead. He said that, “you can't plan for everything being prepared will help keep your child safe and limit your holiday stress. We all know we have enough of it anyway.”

One important thing you can do is to keep your child’s hands and the surfaces they touch as clean as possible. Recent research has shown that allergic reactions are not caused by inhaling airborne nut particles, but instead occurs when a child touches a surface that has been exposed to a nut and then ingests the particles.

Planning ahead is important. Make sure to always have an Epi-pen on hand and antihistamines. Because of increased airport security, if you are flying getting a note from your pediatrician in advance can make bring an Epi-pen on the plane much smoother. Also, pack your own snacks. Whether you’re making the trip in the plane or car, having your own snacks keep you from having to guess about whether a food is safe. Bring along sanitizing wipes as well. Wiping down your child’s table tray and arm rests can help keep them from coming in contact with allergens.

Wherever you’re headed, taking a deep breath having a plan can help you get through traveling with a child with nut allergies.  Enjoy the holidays.

Source: Loyola University Health System