First Child Food allergy death in Western Australia (Daily Mail photo)
A 6-year-old Western Australian girl died of severe allergies after eating dairy products earlier this week.
A 6-year-old girl in Perth, Western Australia, died of allergies after eating dairy products on August 1, the Daily Mail reported. This is said to be the first child food allergy death in Western Australia.
Saeed (Maria Said), chief executive of (Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia), the Australian Allergy and Allergy Association, said deaths from food allergies were generally avoidable. The dead allergic girl is on a waiting list for allergies and doctors have prescribed EpiPen epinephrine, so everyone should know that the child is allergic.
"most allergic deaths can be avoided, especially if this person is aware of food allergies, proper management, and proper emergency treatment," said.
In the past 15 years, there have been seven investigations into food allergy-related causes of death, and new lessons have been learned from each case, said. The Association has done some work with the Western Australian government, schools, childcare centres and health-care departments, but more remains to be done.
It is unclear whether the girl, who attended a private school, misate allergies at school or at home.
Gould (Valerie Gould), chief executive of the Western Australian Independent Schools Association (AISWA), said the ambulance brought her to hospital from her home on the day of the incident. Safety measures are in place in schools where girls attend, and further support will be provided to schools in the future by the Western Australian Independent Schools Association.