Food intolerances and allergies in children from the perspective of nursing staff

Food intolerance is a condition where there is an absence of a substance or a group of substances that under physiological conditions help to process food. Food intolerances are manifested by a wide range of symptoms and can be caused by a number of factors. If a child develops a food intolerance, his organism is unable to digest and process the given food due to the absence of a certain substance, and thus a number of clinical symptoms arise, which in most cases concern several organ systems. In contrast to food allergy, food intolerance is directly dependent on the amount of the inciting substance ingested and the onset of clinical symptoms. For food intolerances in less sensitive individuals, even a trace amount of the problematic food may not cause any clinical symptoms. It is even recommended that a child patient who suffers from food intolerance does not follow an elimination diet, but should include a small amount of the problem food in the diet. This is to prevent the maintenance of unwanted sensitization. Among the well-known symptoms of food intolerance are diarrhea, abdominal pain, but less well-known symptoms include fatigue, headaches, migraines or musculoskeletal problems. For the treatment of lactose intolerance are dietary supplements currently available on the market, which are taken with food and contain lactase, an enzyme that helps break down lactose (milk sugar), so the patient can also consume foods that contain lactose. Currently, it is still difficult to understand the pathophysiology of some food intolerances, and for that reason they can be dangerous in children. On the other hand, food allergy is a condition where an inappropriate and unwanted reaction of the child patient's immune system occurs. The development of food allergy is influenced by the genetic predisposition of the child patient, but also by his environment. Food allergies can cause mild, but also very serious body reactions. Therefore, unlike food intolerance, it is recommended to follow an elimination diet and avoid even trace amounts of the allergen. Food allergies can cause a life-threatening condition called anaphylactic shock, which can lead to the subsequent death of a child patient. Therefore, it is important that such patients follow a strict diet and that their surroundings, including parents and nursing staff, know the typical symptoms of anaphylactic shock. Clinical symptoms of food allergy include problems with the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory problems or skin symptoms, which include atopic dermatitis. Breastfeeding and the nutrition of a lactating mother play an important role in the prevention of food allergy, because important microbial colonization of the child's intestines occurs during breastfeeding. For children, it is important to know that food allergies disappear spontaneously in most of them over time, most often around school age. The aim of this bachelor's thesis was to find out how nurses care for a child patient who suffers from a food allergy or intolerance and to find out what knowledge nurses have about food allergies and intolerances. Qualitative research was conducted using a semi-structured interview method. For better processing, the interviews were anonymously recorded on a dictaphone and then transcribed into written form. The results of the qualitative investigation were analyzed using the pencil and paper method. Furthermore, the results were categorized into five categories. Categorization: Symptoms, Food allergies, Knowledge, Anaphylactic shock, Specifics of nursing care. The categories are further divided systematically according to the resulting answers of the female respondents into another eleven subcategories. The results are clearly divided into tables and schemas. The research showed that nurses know the specifics of nursing care for children with food allergies or intolerances, but the mapped knowledge of nurses about food allergies and intolerances is insufficient