Psychological and social impacts of food allergies on children and adolescents

Emotional and Social Effects of Food Allergies in Children and Teenagers

In case, a child has food allergies there are emotional repercussions that affect both the child and the mother. By definition, an allergy occurs when the immune system of the body is reacting against food substances, which it considers harmful to the body (Bursztyn 6-7). As a result, the immune system can cause harsh symptoms, which could be fatal. Some of these symptoms range from abdominal and rushes which can affect breathing system and ultimately cause anaphylactic shock. Food allergy can also affect a child's social life because a child will find it difficult to attend birthday parties, eat out at hotels and restaurants or even eat friends' homes (Bursztyn 6-7).

Food allergy also affects the parents of the child with food allergy. This is so because of the alarming increase of stress within home, constant increase of anxiety in trying to keep the child safe and above all that fear that parents have that their children health is in their hands (Bursztyn 16-19). This calls for caution on the side of parents because they have to ensure that the food children consume is safe for consumption. Adults that have food allergies find it hard to co-exist with their colleagues at work (Sheikh & Allison 23-29). People that have food allergies must be cautious enough not to come into contact with food allergens and also they must know how to cope with emotional problems that come along with food allergy (Bursztyn 16-19).

Consequences of food allergy

Bullying in regard to food allergy is the responsibility that children with food allergies have to bear by taking care of themselves medically. Reports reveal that about 25% of children become harassed, teased or bullied simply because of a food allergy (Sheikh & Allison 23-29). A lot of challenges encountered by these children in trying to manage their food allergies are inevitable. Some of these challenges cause mental distress (Bursztyn 16-19).

A survey conducted by Pediatrics revealed that at least 30% of kids with food allergies are victims of bullying about their allergies. Moreover, a recent study showed that kids with food allergy are more vulnerable to bullying than those without food allergies. Food sharing uses a social bond to bring people together, and people use it as a way of solving their differences and a way of portraying love to each other. Many religions among them being Islam, use food sharing as a way of increasing friendship status within the group. The consequences of an individual not taking part in these crucial social interactions are mostly felt by people with food allergies, especially children (Sheikh & Allison 23-29). This concept of food sharing helps in understanding social stigma associated with persons with food allergy. So how does food sharing for instance cause social stigma?

Children that have anaphylactic food allergies do experience social stigma during their time in public school. Many people are resistant when it comes to accommodating children with anaphylactic food allergies as it is difficult for them to take care of their needs. That is why it is exceedingly difficult for a kid with food allergy to get a boarding school, which is eager and able to take care of their needs and, therefore, these children take long before they get such a school. For instance, if a teacher brings cakes to the class as a way of appreciating one of the kids birthday, what would happen to this kid? Although the teacher will bring this kid other alternative gifts, this would still trigger social stigma because of the feeling that he is not part of the group, and every event of food sharing would remind this kid of his separateness. It would also act as a prompt that the teacher did not think he was good enough to be included.

Children with food allergies find themselves in a difficult social position where they try and stand their ground in resisting food from adults who try to give them food which is unsafe. This ultimately creates a division between them and other kids. Even though their parents try to bring food that can be shared by the entire group, the inability to reciprocate this by accepting food from other kids still creates stigma (Noimark and Helen 192). What if a parent of the allergic child brings multiple gifts of food to the group in an attempt to overcompensate? This will make other parents be resentful. This will create a no win situation as the resentment expresses an ostracism of children with allergy and their family.

Despite of this isolation when it comes to food sharing, kids with food allergies should internalize that food allergy is a fact in their life and, therefore, should get used to being on their own. However kids with multiple food allergies and are sensitive to the allergens are at a greater risk of stigmatization because the most prestigious precautions in their life seems unusual to many people.

Sicherer, a famous book writer, once said that a child with food allergies can do anything that a kid without food allergies does except eating food with allergens. So the key question arises as to how should both parents and teachers do to assist a kid with food allergies overcome the emotional side effects of food allergies? Parents for instance should control some of the exclusion at school by volunteering to share safe food and hugely support his or her child's self-initiative efforts. A teacher, on the other hand, can select non-food items for incentives and for class projects. Teachers can also enhance celebrations that pay more attention to activities rather than food items.

A parent who has a child without food allergies can assist a child with food allergy to fight social stigma by; sending non-food items for birthdays and holidays and also giving an opportunity to an allergic child to participate in a social event outside school. All these attempts will assist a child with food allergies in fighting social stigma. Parents should also have information and will enable them support and empower their kids towards allaying of fears (Sheikh & Allison 23-29). In addition to this, children with food allergy should know that food allergen is not an outright death sentence as it will have a notable impact on their lives and be an integral part of what shapes their character.

Conclusion

Food allergy is an alarming and a serious health concern among children. Studies show that there is one child with food allergy in every twenty children with long-term medical, social and psychological effects. It is also a fact that correct diagnosis of children with food allergy is important in that it prevents unnecessary and unhealthy dietary restrictions. There is a need for more research in order to discover less invasive and more accurate diagnostic tests for children with food allergy. This will go a step further in reducing reliance on intrusive procedures and misdiagnosis.

Although there is no cure for children with food allergy, efficient management must be put into place to eliminate symptoms and enable long-term quality of life by implementing sound dietary avoidance, foster a management plan which will deal with accidental swallowing of food and institute an evaluative diet plan as much as possible. Finally, it is good to note that the main mission and the objective of Food Allergy Centre are to bring patient centered research together, to carry out coordinated research so as to provide the best treatment, educate and provide support for individuals with food allergy now and in the future.