mother of gardener who died after eating curry vows death will not be in vain.

[eragon]

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/leader/11293865.Mother_of_gardener_who_died_after_eating_curry_vows_his_death_will_not_be_in_vain/

[Macabre]

I think there should be a national as campaign in England for people with FAs to avoid takeout.  There are so many deaths from this.

[lakeswimr]

I only know about FAs in the UK from what I see filtered through various posts and news stories on the internet.  From what I see it seems that there is a lack of education about some basic things with regard to FAs.  I don't know if it is a bigger issue than we have here in the States.

It is frustrating seeing preventable deaths happen.  His mother is doing very important work.  It is good she is getting stories into the media that will help prevent this happening to others.

'She said: "Derek was diagnosed with the allergy before EpiPens were invented, but once they came on the scene no-one ever offered him one or even spoke to him about it.

"An EpiPen can buy someone suffering an attack crucial time and can make a big difference as to whether they live or die, but not once did someone say to Derek he could have one."

Mrs Brown said GPs also need to send more people who display potential allergies for proper assessments at specialist centres to determine exactly what it is they are allergic to.'

[lakeswimr]

It seems his doctors are to blame, assuming he occasionally went to doctors for various things.  How could no one ever mention an auto injector to him?

[rebekahc]

The first time I was offered an EpiPen was by DS's pediatrician.  We were going over family history and when he heard I was MFA, he asked where my Epi was.  I told him I didn't have one and he promptly wrote me a prescription and emphasized how important it was that I have them on me at all times.  It was the one good thing he did.

[Macabre]

And I know there are so many clueless FA folks in the US when it comes to eating out and FAs. But in 1999 or 2000 when DS' allergist gave him an EpiPen script, we also got a wallet card from FAAN saying to avoid eating out at Asian restaurants, ice cream parlors, etc. We knew then not to do it because of FAAN education materials. Our doctor also reinforced that verbally.

And is went to the FAAN website.

Is there a similar push in the UK by the anaphylaxis org? If not, there should be--but more. There should be an ad campaign. Too many people aRe dying.

[starlight]

There's a problem in the food chain over there, this isn't just a coincidence that's it's happening more frequently. They're eating things they've eaten before. Of course, they should have an epi, but from what I hear they barely have any allergists over there as it is.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2608686/Curry-sauces-restaurants-country-tested-three-deaths-linked-peanut-allergy.html

[lakeswimr]

I could be very wrong but my impression from reading posts by people from the UK is that doctors there try to avoid giving the epi and have different guidelines for when it is needed that would result in delaying it more often than we would here based on most USA guidelines.  It also seems more difficult to get in to see an allergist.  There are plenty of people walking around in the USA who should have epi pens but it seems there are also a long (or more per % of the population) in the UK.