Éducation thérapeutique en allergie alimentaire. Les compétences à acquérir par les enfants et les familles Therapeutic education for food allergy. Skills to be acquired by children and families

The prevalence of food allergy has increased considerably in children in recent years. Severe life-threatening forms with poor prognosis are now more frequent, leading to more consultations and hospitalisation. Only avoidance of the incriminated food can prevent such accidents. The management of food allergy should not be limited to the medical diagnosis and complementary examinations alone; it must include information supplemented by therapeutic education (ETP) of the child and also of his family and family circle. These individuals must acquire the knowledge which will allow them to identify the allergen, avoid serious reactions and, if they happen, be prepared to administer appropriate treatment. Several groups in France have been involved in food allergy ETP and they have organized the groupe de reflexion en education therapeutique dans l’allergie alimentaire (GRETAA). Following the recommendations of HAS on ETP, GRETAA has already published a reference list of skills to be acquired by affected children and their families, and it continues to work on educational and evaluation material. The aim of this approach is clearly to harmonize ETP practice and to share the educational techniques. # 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.