"When is a child ready to begin taking responsibility for anaphylaxis management?"
http://www.aaaai.org/global/latest-research-summaries/New-Research-from-JACI-In-Practice/child-ready-anaphylaxis-management.aspx (http://www.aaaai.org/global/latest-research-summaries/New-Research-from-JACI-In-Practice/child-ready-anaphylaxis-management.aspx)
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Parents and caregivers expected transfer of responsibilities to begin between ages <6-8 years for anaphylaxis recognition and between ages 6-11 years for anaphylaxis treatment, younger age ranges than chosen by pediatric allergists.
Wow-- timely thread.
This is related to the one in main right now.
I think that they key term here is "begin."
I do not expect even my nearly 14yo DD to take "most" of the responsibility for her management. Anaphylaxis recognition, we're probably at about 90%, there-- and that transition began at about 4-6yo. I think that is VERY highly individual, though-- DD was ready far younger than many of her peers would have been. Part of this is a matter of experience with reactions-- something that I think none of us really wants our kids to have. :-/
She also began self-carrying at <3yo, and is pretty much 100% responsible for her epipens, inhaler, and medic-alert bracelet(s) at this point. I'd say she's been there for about three years, with only the occasional error.
She cannot self-administer reliably; usually by the time it is clear that epinephrine is needed, she is far too incapacitated. I hope that someday she will be able to get that one to about 80%, but given the nature of her reactions since she was about 6yo, I don't think it will ever be much higher than that. That's an ongoing worry.
Quote from: LinksEtc on April 21, 2013, 09:45:02 PM
"When is a child ready to begin taking responsibility for anaphylaxis management?"
http://www.aaaai.org/global/latest-research-summaries/New-Research-from-JACI-In-Practice/child-ready-anaphylaxis-management.aspx (http://www.aaaai.org/global/latest-research-summaries/New-Research-from-JACI-In-Practice/child-ready-anaphylaxis-management.aspx)
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Parents and caregivers expected transfer of responsibilities to begin between ages <6-8 years for anaphylaxis recognition and between ages 6-11 years for anaphylaxis treatment, younger age ranges than chosen by pediatric allergists.
Hmm... age 6 - coincides with beginning school. It may be that because many schools are so lacking in allergy knowledge and combative toward accommodations and school taking responsibility, parents don't have a choice but to transfer responsibilities earlier than pediatric allergists would suggest.