Commentary on Japanese Pediatric Guideline for Food Allergy 2016　Chapter 13 How to support social life of patients

Abstract

 Patients with food allergies and their families must be vigilant about food allergen avoidance every day. The burden of avoidance and fear of an accidental exposure can increase anxiety and result in reduced quality of life. Physicians are required not only to support them but also to create safe social systems, especially at schools. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has published guidelines for the management of food allergies in schools. A key to its success is to work in cooperation with schools to form an effective partnership. The first step is to share accurate information about patients. The “Certificate for School Life Management” is mandatory at schools, and the “Certificate for Nursery Life Management” is required at nurseries. Despite the best avoidance efforts, accidents can and do happen. Hence, training should be imparted by a healthcare professional regarding treatment protocols, including the use of an epinephrine auto-injector.