Allergy List

What are allergies and allergens?

Allergies are abnormal reactions to allergens. Allergens trigger reactions from people's immune systems, specifically those who are allergic to whatever allergen they were exposed to. These reactions vary from person to person. People can be allergic to particular foods, animal fur, insect bites or venom, pollen, mold, and even specific medicines.

Food allergies are among the most common among the different types of allergies and allergens. In fact, in the US, there's a list of the "big nine" foods responsible for the majority of food allergy reactions, which food businesses and manufacturers need to monitor to ensure that their products are safe for consumers with allergies to these major food allergens. In fact, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recognizes these foods as priority food allergens in Canada. Food manufacturers must list them on food labels if they are present in the product, similar to the US and other countries worldwide.

It is crucial to ensure that businesses follow these food safety regulations and that patients avoid allergens that cause their allergic reactions. If exposed, people may have an allergic reaction that ranges from mild, including allergic rhinitis and skin reactions, to severe, including vomiting, diarrhea, and, the worst of them all, anaphylaxis.

Because of these allergic reactions, Allergy Lists were created. They serve as a reference for healthcare professionals and their patients to create a plan to help patients manage their allergens, whether those are common food allergens or less common allergens such as latex and specific drugs, and find ways to avoid exposure to specific allergens.

What is on our Allergy List template?

More often than not, when you search for Allergy Lists, you'll likely pull one up for food because of how common food allergies are.

Our Allergy List includes the most common food and non-food allergens. As with any list, its primary function is to show various allergens to help people become aware of the most common types and sources of allergies.

Beyond being a simple allergen list, our Allergy List can be used as an information-gathering tool. It is centered on allergies ranging from the most common food allergy to the least common non-food allergy. Healthcare professionals such as yourself can hand these to their patients to confirm or note down their allergies.

The different categories you'll see on our Allergy List template are the following:

• Most common food allergies (tree nuts, peanuts, milk, dairy, etc.)
• Environmental allergies (tree pollen, mold spores, dust, pet dander, smoke/smog, etc.)
• Medication allergies (penicillin, antibiotics, insulin, etc.)
• Insect bite/sting allergies (ant bite, bee sting, spider bite, etc.)
• Other allergies (cigarette smoke, perfume, cosmetics, latex, etc.)

When is it best to use an Allergy List?

Aside from having copies of the Allergy List at your clinic to give away, there are other situations where a patient may find it helpful to have the Allergy List template on hand, such as the following:

During hospital visits

Having Allergy List ready to hand out to patients visiting your hospital is always good, especially if they're there to be treated. Knowing your patients' allergies allows you to plan and provide treatment that considers their allergies.

In an emergency where someone close to the patient is present, they can inform healthcare professionals about the patient's allergies. Doing so can prevent them from administering allergic medication and avoid anaphylaxis.

During particular school events and enrollment

For parents, having a copy of an Allergy List, especially a child's allergies, during enrollment and when getting to know their homeroom teacher is good. Doing so can help inform the kids' teachers and other staff members about their allergies so they can determine how to act accordingly if their allergies are triggered.

At school events where the staff provides food to children, staff can note the child's allergies and ensure they aren't given something they can't eat.

Before attending social gatherings and food experiences

When patients are attending a social gathering or scheduled to participate in a food experience, and the organizers of these events are kind enough to take into account people's dietary preferences and allergies, patients can provide them with a filled-out Allergy List to ensure they're aware of their allergies and that selections will not trigger them.

What are the benefits of using an Allergy List template?

There are many benefits to using and keeping a completed and personalized Allergy List template. Here are a few of them:

Personalized medical care

As mentioned earlier, one of the most appropriate times to use an Allergy List is during hospital visits or medical consultations. By getting information about patient allergies using an Allergy List, healthcare professionals can personalize their care and avoid medication that can potentially trigger their patient's allergies.

Communicate information with healthcare professionals

Suppose you're part of a big team handling a particular patient, and you all have alternating shifts. You can use this Allergy List to pass information between each team member. Everyone can discuss whether the patient requires an alternative treatment method to account for their allergies and then ensure everyone in the team is informed about the course of treatment and what to avoid giving to the patient.

Prevent allergic reactions in various settings

In the previous section, we listed different settings where Allergy Lists can be used. One of the benefits of having an Allergy List ready is that it can help prevent a person from having their allergies triggered in specific settings or times. Since most food allergy reactions are caused by a few specific foods, having an Allergy List can help identify and avoid these common triggers.