Easter Egg Hunt April 3 at Ochsner’s

CENTRAL — Ochsner’s Health Center — Central is hosting a Doc Hop (Easter Egg Hunt) from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 3 at 11424-2 Sullivan Road.  Kids are invited to come and hunt with Ochsner’s pediatricians.

And parents can use the occasion to learn more about children’s food allergies.

According to the CDC, food allergies impact nearly two percent of adults and as a many as eight percent of children in the U.S.  A true food allergy is a reaction to food involving the body’s immune system, as opposed to a food intolerance, which does not involve the immune system.    While there is no cure for food allergies, there are ways you can avoid problems.

Know the Source

It’s important for you and your doctor to identify the source of your allergy.  To narrow it down, your doctor will likely ask you to remove suspected problem foods from your diet altogether and then gradually add them back until the problem is identified.

“The more you can tell your physician about your symptoms and eating habits, the easier it will be for them to diagnose the problem,” according to Lois Gesn, M.D., Ochsner Health Center – Central Pediatrician.

Dr. Gesn said eight foods make up 90 percent of all food allergies in the U.S., including:

• Eggs

• Milk

• Peanuts

• Tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans

• Soybeans

• Wheat

• Fish

• Shellfish

Children are especially likely to have problems with eggs, milk, and peanuts.

“Anytime you host a children’s party such as an Easter egg hunt or birthday party, you should be aware of any allergies the children may have or speak with parents about what you are serving,” Alicia Kober, M.D. Ochsner Health Center – Central pediatrician said.   Dr. Kober said an alternative to hiding real eggs is to use plastic eggs filled with treats instead.

Know the Symptoms

Most food allergy sufferers will experience symptoms within about an hour of eating the food.   The most common signs are:

• Hives, itching, or a skin rash

• Swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat

• Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting

• Dizziness, light-headedness or fainting

In severe allergic reactions, you may experience swelling of the air passage making it difficult to breathe; shock with a severe drop in blood pressure; rapid, irregular pulse, and even loss of consciousness.  If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, get emergency medical treatment immediately.

Know What You Eat

The best way to avoid a dangerous food reaction is to avoid the food entirely:

• Read food labels and know what is in your food before you eat it.

• Talk to your server when eating at a restaurant to ensure the problem food is not in your meal.  Stress that you cannot have the problem food or eat food that’s been prepared in a dish or on a surface that previously contained the food.

• Make sure the adults in your child’s life know about his food allergy and what signs to look for in the event of accidental consumption.

• If you know you have a severe food allergy, wear a medical alert bracelet and talk to your doctor about using epinephrine.

Food allergies can be very serious but if you are vigilant about what you eat, you can reduce your risk for a severe reaction.

Pediatricians Lois Gesn, MD and Alicia Kober, MD are currently seeing patients at Ochsner Health Center – Central at 11424-2 Sullivan Rd.  To schedule an appointment call 261-9790.