How Did 3-year Old Boy Die After Harlem Pre-K Fed Him A Grilled Cheese Sandwich?

*****UPDATE****** I recently interviewed the parents of Elijah Alavi Silvera. The interview is below.

FOOD ALLERGIES takes another life!! I am so sad to hear about Elijah Silvera. He was a 3-year old little boy who was a student at Seventh Avenue Center for Family Services in Harlem. Apparently he was given a grilled cheese sandwich on November 3, 2017 and he had a dairy allergy. According to abcnews.com Elijah’s mother was called instead of 911 and she drove him to the hospital. If this is true precious time had been wasted.  I recently saw some questions online that I would love to address!!

How serious are food allergies?

Can dairy be lethal for a person suffering from such allergy? – YES YES YES!!! How do I know this? I myself have several food allergies and even when I have the slightest crumb of something I am not suppose to, I get SICK! Sick = my throat begins to close and I start wheezing. I eat out and sometimes I ask about what is in the food or how it is prepared but sometimes I do not trust what I am told so I literally dissect my bite to make sure. One day at breakfast I did my usual and still had an allergic reaction. So I thought I was eating a banana muffin but it was a banana chocolate chip or nut muffin. This still remains a mystery because they both illicit the same reaction in my body.

Do people suffering from these allergies need to eat huge amounts of the allergen to get sick or a small amount may be enough to provoke severe reactions, or even death (as in the case of the little boy)? – As I stated above NOPE!! A crumb has set me off before. I get sick with a small amount don’t usually make it to a large amount.

What is a food allergy?

The  American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says, “A food allergy reaction occurs when your immune system overreacts to a food or a substance in a food, identifying it as a danger and triggering a protective response.” They also said While any food can cause an adverse reaction, eight types of food account for about 90 percent of all reactions:

  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Peanuts
  • Tree nuts
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Wheat
  • Soy

Guess who is allergic to ALL OF THESE THINGS!!!!! And has been all of her life. Now you understand why I am the Allergy and Asthma Expert!

Related: Ask Dr. Renee: How Did Food Allergies  Kill Two Teenagers?

What is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is when your immune system releases chemicals that can cause you to go into shock. Your blood pressure drops suddenly and your airways narrow, blocking breathing. Now that you know this you can understand why food allergies are VERY VERY SERIOUS!!!!

What is an EpiPen®?

It is an auto-injector that gives you epinephrine. Auto-Injectors are for the emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) caused by allergens, exercise, or unknown triggers; and for people who are at increased risk for these reactions. EpiPens® are intended for immediate administration as emergency supportive therapy only. Seek immediate emergency medical help right away.

If you are ever around someone that is having an allergic reaction to something please ask them if they have an epinephrine auto-injector. Then call 911 and get them help IMMEDIATELY!! If you have any questions about this topic please drop a comment below or feel free to contact me.