This study surveyed 115 Australian parents' knowledge, views, and feelings of food allergy management and guidelines in primary schools. Although most parents were knowledgeable about food allergy management and related guidelines, half of them had limited understanding on how schools identify and respond to anaphylaxis, or teachers' recent…

Children's knowledge of food allergies and their self-management is developmentally based, and is essential for their safe transition to school. Despite a growing number of children with food allergies starting school globally, to date, little is known about young children's knowledge of food allergy or their capacity to manage it, or their…

Despite the increasing attendance of children with food allergy in schools in Australia and globally, little is known about how affected families manage their children's transition to school. This paper discusses the experiences and support needs of ten mothers during their child's transition to school in Sydney, Australia, drawn from the thematic…

Food allergy impairs the health-related quality of life of both the affected children and their families. In particular, parents and children become anxious about the potential risks and consequences of food allergy, including disruptions in families' and children's social activities, the need for constant vigilance, children's safety, and the…

Worldwide the prevalence of severe and life threatening allergies is rising. In 2007 35% of Victorian schools had students at-risk for anaphylaxis (Office of the Premier), and three children have allegedly died from anaphylaxis in Australian school and early childhood education settings during the last six years alone. Teaching personnel are…

Children with life-threatening food allergies are increasing in number in Australia. A variety of foods such as dairy milk, peanut and tree nuts, fish and egg can cause severe allergic reactions in some children. The foods that cause allergies could trigger severe breathing difficulties (anaphylaxis) for these children and, if not treated…

"Every Child" is Australia's premier early childhood publication, aimed at anyone involved in the care and education of children from birth to eight years--in particular child care professionals, teachers, child care students and the parents of young children. Published quarterly, it contains informative and entertaining articles on such…