Risky business or business as usual? Adrenaline autoinjector use in pediatric food allergy

Abstract:

The risk of fatal anaphylaxis in a food allergic child is much lower than their risk of accidental death from most other causes, yet the possibility of this very rare but devastating event is a major focus for families of pediatric patients and healthcare professionals dealing with food allergy. In this presentation we explore the care of the food allergic child, the use of adrenaline auto-injectors and strategies that can be used to maximize the child’s safety and reduce unnecessary anxiety and the over-provision of medications.

Audience Take Away:

• An exploration of the risks of anaphylaxis in food allergic children
• A discussion on the levels of anxiety felt by the families of these children
• An understanding of the challenges of caring for a child with food allergies
• An insight into the role of Adrenaline Autoinjectors in the treatment of food allergy anaphylaxis
• Appreciation of some of the challenges in the use of these devices in a child’s care

Biography:

Mrs. Heather Hanna studied at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London qualifying as a Registered General Nurse and a Registered Sick Children’s Nurse in 1989. She also qualified as an RN in the State of Washington, practicing there for 3 years in Infant Intensive Care Unit and then as a Research Nurse at Children’s Hospital, Seattle. Her career was mostly spent in Neonatal Intensive Care before she moved into Research at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington where she also obtained her MSc in Allergy (dist.) from Imperial College London, before her move into Medical Education, obtaining her MEd from Imperial College. She currently works as a Senior Clinical Teaching Fellow both with Undergraduates (in the Medical Ethics and Law Team) and Postgraduates (on the online Applied Paediatrics MSc course), both at Imperial College London.