How can I educate patients about avoiding allergens and managing accidental exposure in daily life?

Educating patients about avoiding allergens and managing accidental exposure involves several key strategies:

• Awareness of high-risk situations: Inform patients about situations where accidental exposure is more likely, such as nurseries, schools, eating out, parties, friends' houses, and travelling. Encourage liaison with schools or nurseries to update allergy management plans as needed.
• Environmental precautions: Advise wiping eating surfaces before meals to reduce cross-contamination, especially when outside the home.
• Food allergen avoidance: Educate patients on which foods and drinks to avoid, including cross-reactive foods, and the importance of reading and interpreting food labels carefully. Explain alternative names for allergens and the significance of precautionary allergen labelling such as 'may contain' or 'not suitable for'. Warn about risks from loose foods, buffets, and imported foods lacking allergy labelling.
• Emergency preparedness: Teach prompt recognition of allergic reactions and the immediate management steps, including the use of antihistamines for mild/moderate symptoms and adrenaline injectors for anaphylaxis. Provide or update a written individualized allergy management plan and an Allergy Action Plan.
• Medication and travel advice: Advise carrying emergency medication at all times, including during travel, and informing airlines or transport staff about the allergy. Emphasize keeping emergency medication accessible during flights or train journeys.
• Support and follow-up: Provide information on sources of support such as Allergy UK factsheets and dietitian referral for nutritional advice. Encourage regular review of allergy status and management plans with healthcare professionals.

These approaches help patients make safe food choices, reduce accidental exposures, and manage reactions effectively if they occur.

References: ¹,³,⁴