1/29/2008 9:51:00 AM Hetlands, like many families,
are dealing with a peanut allergy
HERALD PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Katie Hetland (right) and her younger sister, Claire, joke around Friday afternoon after Katie arrives home from Girl Scouts. But there’s no joking around when it comes to a peanut allergy, which Katie has. Above, she holds an EpiPen, used if she has a severe reaction to peanuts, which to date she hasn’t. Their parents, Mary (above) and Paul, don’t know yet if Claire has this allergy, as she hasn’t been exposed to peanuts.
By Carol Moorman and Bryan Zollman
Freeport-Mary Hetland isn't taking any chances when it comes to a peanut allergy.
Her and husband Paul's seven-year-old daughter Katie is allergic to peanuts.
They don't know yet about youngest daughter Claire.
"The doctors told us to wait until she's three before having her tested for peanuts," said Mary, the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 22, sitting around their dining room table in their Freeport home with a talkative three-year-old Claire.
That means sometime this year-Mary is thinking this spring-the time will come.
And this mother of two is going to make sure they are close to a hospital emergency room, since she doesn't know what Claire's reaction will be-if she has one.
"We're going to the park across from the Albany Hospital and then I'll give her a peanut butter cookie," said Mary.
She will have an EpiPen, an auto injector that administers epinephrine, close by just in case she has a severe allergic reaction.
What is a peanut allergy?
The Hetlands are among a growing number of families dealing with peanut allergy.
Close to 1.5 million people in the United States are affected by a peanut allergy, according to information from MayoClinic.com. Peanut allergies are the most common cause of life-threatening reactions and account for 80 percent of fatal or near-fatal allergic reactions each year.
Possible risk factors include a family history of allergies, personal history of peanut allergy and an altered immune system. Some scientists believe that the destroying of many infectious diseases may have altered the immune system.
Peanut allergy is caused by an immune system malfunction, identifying peanuts as harmful and triggering the production of immunoglobulin E antibodies to neutralize the peanut protein.
When a person with a peanut allergy comes in contact with peanuts these antibodies recognize it and signal the immune system to release histamine and other chemicals into their bloodstream, causing a range of allergic signs and symptoms like itching, redness, swelling, shortness of breath, wheezing, nausea, abdominal pain or lightheadedness. The most serious and potentially deadly allergic reaction to peanuts is an anaphylactic response, immediately after exposure, causing their airways to constrict, making breathing difficult and eventually losing consciousness.
Reactions usually occur within minutes after exposure, although it could take an hour or so after ingestion. Medications, such as antihistamines, may reduce symptoms, but severe cases may require an epinephrine injection and/or a trip to the emergency center.
The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to stay away from peanuts or peanut products, once it is known a person is allergic.
Exposure to peanuts can occur in three ways: direct contact with peanuts, exposure to peanuts during processing or handling of a food product or inhaling dust or aerosols containing peanuts, like peanut flour or peanut oil.
Common food products that can trigger peanut allergy include: peanut butter, peanut flour, ground or mixed nuts, baked goods like cookies and pastries, ice cream and frozen desserts, energy bars, salad dressing, cereals and granola, grain breads and nougat. Dealing with allergy daily
Before now, the Hetlands have had no history of peanut allergy on either side of the family.
They have learned to deal daily with Katie's peanut allergy.
Speaking from experience they know awareness is important. Mary encourages parents to check with their physician about when to first give their child peanuts.
As a stay-at-home mom, Mary has an advantage when watching their children's food intake.
They figure Katie's first exposure to peanuts happened when she was two and ate some peanut crumbs, breaking out with hives. An M&M cookie 2 ½ years ago prompted another reaction.
"Most cookies are sugar based but this one was peanut butter based," said Mary.
They have found more food providers are letting their customers know when something contains peanuts.
Also at the age of 13 months, it also discovered that Katie was allergic to eggs, after she ate some scrambled eggs and broke out in hives and became nauseated.
The Hetlands had to find alternate foods that had no eggs.
"Like Oreos and Chips Ahoy cookies and Vanilla Wafers," said Mary. "And if we'd go out to eat for breakfast we couldn't get pancakes without eggs so Katie would have sausage and a bagel."
Last year when Katie was in kindergarten, Mary scanned the lunch menu and if it looked like items with eggs were on the menu, she packed Katie a lunch.
That same year Katie went through allergy testing which verified her peanut allergy.
"Technically, peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes," said Mary.
Legumes have seed pods that, when ripe, split along both sides. Beans, lentils, peanuts, peas and soybeans are some of the common legumes consumed by humans.
That means Katie can eat walnuts and almonds, which are tree nuts.
The skin testing also determined she had outgrown her egg allergy.
"That was wonderful," said Mary.
They are thankful she has no other allergies at this time and that her peanut allergy isn't as severe as some.
"I can have peanut butter on my toast and Katie's OK," said Mary.
Mary, an avid reader, keeps herself and her family abreast of allergy information.
Prepared, just in case of reaction
Staff at Sacred Heart School, where Katie is a first grader, know about her allergy and EpiPens are in place there just in case.
Her allergist suggested Katie learn how to use the EpiPen on herself. It's similar to giving herself a shot.
"This past summer when Katie was in summer rec she wore a fanny pack with an EpiPen in it," said Mary.
They have never had to use an EpiPen on Katie. An antihistamine has reduced her symptoms the two times she has had a reaction.
Mary checks food labels and is not afraid to ask food questions when they go out to eat. She said the girls, even at their young ages, know what foods they can and cannot eat.
Mary smiles when talking about going through Katie's Halloween candy bucket, switching nugget and nut-filled candy with food like Hershey bars.
"We gave her a 3 Musketeers candy bar once before we knew she was allergic to eggs and she threw up. We thought she had just eaten too much candy, but here it was because there were eggs in the candy bar," said Mary.
Mary and Paul are hoping that Claire won't be allergic to peanuts.
But they aren't placing any bets on it. After all, both girls, one month after each was born, were diagnosed with eczema, which doctors told them is a sign that they may be prone to allergies.
"We'll just see what happens," said Mary, "and deal with it then."
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, February 01, 2008
Article comment by:
NoPeanuts4Us
This article disturbed me and I really felt the need to respond.
Your youngest daughter has a much higher chance of being allergic to peanuts due to her sibling have the allergy. You should NEVER self test!
If the Dr. said not to test her until the age of 3...bring her to the DR. for allergy testing. Not to the park to give her a cookie. It is very dramatic for a child to experience an anaphylactic reaction and get an Epipen. I know b/c my son did.
Also, 3 Musk. candy bar has a peanut allergy warning on it so maybe it wasn't just from the eggs in it.
You may want to talk to her daughter about eating tree nuts when having a peanut allergy.
Stay safe!
