Food Allergies
Course Overview
Food allergy affects approximately 5.8% to 8.0% of children and approximately 6.2% to 10.8% of adults in the United States, and the prevalence has been increasing. The number of deaths associated with food allergy remains relatively low, but some reactions can be life-threatening, making it necessary to ensure that individuals with food allergy and their families understand the potential severity of the allergy. This course provides an overview of food allergy, beginning with a definition of food allergy and a description of the two primary types of adverse food reactions. Brief discussions of the risk factors, epidemiology and natural history, and prevention of food allergies are followed by details on the cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and respiratory manifestations of food allergy. The focus of the course is a description of the diagnostic process involved in identifying food allergies, with an exploration of the benefits and risks of testing and comment on appropriate referrals. The management of food allergy is also discussed, highlighting the treatment of severe reactions after inadvertent ingestion of an allergen. The course closes by addressing the need for patient education and a brief look to the future of treatment.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Distinguish between the different types of adverse reactions to food.
- Discuss the prevalence of food allergy and the natural history of the disease, including risk factors.
- Analyze the data on strategies to prevent food allergy.
- Identify the cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and respiratory manifestations of food allergy.
- Summarize the recommended methods of diagnosing food allergy, including considerations for non-English-proficient patients.
- Describe the appropriate management of food allergies and food-induced anaphylaxis.
- Summarize the most important points of the emergency treatment of food-induced anaphylaxis.
About the Author/Presenter
Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC, is President of Editorial Rx, Inc., which provides medical writing and editing services on a wide variety of clinical topics and in a range of media. A medical writer and editor for more than 30 years, Ms. Alexander has written for both professional and lay audiences, with a focus on continuing education materials, medical meeting coverage, and educational resources for patients. She is the Editor Emeritus of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Journal, the peer-review journal representing the largest association of medical communicators in the United States. Ms. Alexander earned a Master’s degree in technical and professional writing, with a concentration in medical writing, at Northeastern University, Boston. She has also earned certification as a life sciences editor and as a medical writer.
Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details):
Dental AGD Code: 149, Nursing, Physician
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
