Asthma and Food Allergy Management in Chicago Public Schools

Abstract

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Asthma and food allergy are common chronic conditions impacting 14% and 8% of US schoolaged children, respectively. School districts must be prepared to track students who have these conditions to ensure proper daily management and emergency response. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:This study examines the demographic distribution of asthma and food allergy and the existence of school health management plans in a large, urban school district. The findings show that school health management plans are underused for both conditions. abstract OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize asthma and food allergy reporting and management in Chicago Public Schools.METHODS: Demographic and health data for students who have asthma and food allergy were extracted from the Chicago Public Schools database. Demographic and geographic variability and the existence of school health management plans were analyzed, and multiple logistic regression models were computed. Home addresses were geocoded to create maps of case counts per community area. RESULTS:Approximately 18 000 asthmatic and 4000 food allergic students were identified. Of asthmatic students, 9.3% had a food allergy; of food allergic students, 40.1% had asthma. Asthma odds were significantly higher among black and Hispanic students (odds ratio [OR] = 2.3 and 1.3, respectively), whereas food allergy odds were significantly higher among black students (OR = 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.3) and significantly lower among Hispanic students (OR = 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7-0.9). Only 24.3% of students who had asthma and 50.9% of students who had food allergy had a school health management plan on file. Odds of having a school health management plan were significantly higher among students with both conditions, but the likelihood of having a plan on file was significantly lower among racial/ethnic minority and low-income students, regardless of medical condition.CONCLUSIONS: Only 1 in 4 students who have asthma and half of food allergic students have health management plans in schools, with lower numbers among minority and low-income students. Improving chronic disease reporting and access to school health management plans is critical. Pediatrics 2014;134:729-736

Emergency Epinephrine Use for Food Allergy Reactions in Chicago Public Schools

“…This is important because nearly half (47%) of the CPS students with physician-documented food allergy resided on the NorthÀNorthwest Side, and only 8% lived on the Far South Side. 19 This underscores the need for access to district-issued EAIs citywide, as children on the Far South Side may not have access to food-allergy diagnosis and could experience their first allergic reaction at school.…”

Gaps in the management of food‐induced anaphylaxis reactions at school

“…This rate is similar to that reported in the United States (51%) but remains lower than expected. 9 Recently, the French Allergology Society provided a position statement about the indications for an IHP for allergic children at school and the content of the emergency kit. 10 In children with a food allergy, the majority of reactions are due to accidental exposure.…”

Educators' Perspectives of Collaboration With Pediatricians to Support Low‐Income Children

“…Similarly, schools receive insufficient medical information from pediatricians. In Chicago Public Schools, only about a quarter of students with asthma and half of students with food allergies had documented school health management plans; low‐income students were less likely to have plans than higher income peers . Teachers also may not feel comfortable addressing educational needs of students with medical conditions.…”