RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Halloween is a time for delicious candy and spooky festivities — but for children with allergies, it can be particularly scary.
Researchers from the National Institute of Health say 85% of peanut and tree-nut related allergic reactions happen on Halloween. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include wheezing, hives, chest tightness and trouble breathing.
“Halloween is a difficult time for children with food allergies, because these can be life-threatening reactions and that’s very scary for children,” said Richmond Allergy Specialist Dr. William Hark.
Dr. Hark said it’s easy for children to get mixed up with different candy at school Halloween functions or trunk-or-treat events. That’s why it’s important for parents to be prepared for Halloween if their child has a food allergy.
“They should have an epinephrine auto injector (Epipen) with them at all times,” said Dr. Hark. “Children, even at a very young age, need to take responsibility for their own food allergies and know which foods to avoid.”
He added that it’s best for at-risk trick-or-treaters to grab candy that has clear ingredient labels as opposed to homemade goods like cookies or cupcakes.
“Parties where people are making homemade items are some of the most dangerous.” said Dr. Hark. “It’s dark and they grab something they can’t see and they only realize it after you’ve taken a bite and start to have a reaction.”
It’s also important to take a second glance at popular candy brands, like M&M’s, because of the different versions.
“If you’re almond-allergic and you think you’re eating peanut M&Ms, you could get into trouble,” said Dr. Hark. “So, you’ve got to be really careful.”