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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
With nearly 1 in 13 U.S. children living with food allergies, back-to-school season is prime time for pediatricians and allergists to update emergency action plans, review epinephrine access, and discuss treatment options. New AAAAI/ACAAI guidance revises the longstanding advice to always call 911 after epinephrine use. Evidence-based treatments like omalizumab and oral immunotherapy are also worth raising with families this season.
Back-to-school season isn't just about new backpacks and supply lists — for the roughly 1 in 13 U.S. children with food allergies, it's one of the most medically significant transitions of the year. Pediatricians and allergists have a key opportunity during this time to update emergency action plans, renew epinephrine prescriptions, and help families navigate school food safety policies.
A major update worth flagging: the AAAAI and ACAAI revised their joint anaphylaxis guidance in 2023, moving away from the blanket advice to always call 911 or go to the ER after epinephrine use. The new guidance is severity-dependent and symptom-based — but many schools still follow the older protocol, so providers should walk families through the difference.
On the treatment front, both omalizumab (FDA-approved in 2024 for food allergies) and oral immunotherapy (OIT) offer evidence-based options to reduce anaphylaxis risk, with OIT also promoting longer-term tolerance.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Food allergies are common, potentially life-threatening, and increasingly manageable — but only if families and schools are properly prepared. Back-to-school visits are a high-impact moment for providers to close care gaps and connect patients with specialized, evidence-based treatment.
