Patients, doctors and researchers from around Spain participate in groundbreaking study to control food allergies in children
The CESA project is based on a new health 2.0 model, which incorporates information and communication technology (ICT).
By Biocat
Food allergies are a very common illness in childhood, affecting roughly 7% of all children. Approximately one in 25 school-age children are calculated to suffer from this condition, which is the most common cause of anaphylaxis in this age group. However, most educational centers aren’t prepared to face the risks that go along with this condition.
In order to mitigate these effects, a groundbreaking participative research project has been started in Spain that will involve a research group from IdeasenSalud.com at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), professionals from the Educasma group at the La Paz University Hospital in Madrid, the Spanish Association of Persons with Food and Latex Allergies (AEPNAA), the Catalan Association of Persons with Food and Latex Allergies (Immunitas Vera) and the Basque Association of Persons with Food and Latex Allergies (Elikalte).
The project, which is entitled CESA allergic reactions to food, is based on a new health 2.0 model, which applies information and communication technology (ICT) to healthcare assistance and to improve patents’ quality of life. The aim is to inform and train both children and parents on self-care skills, so that they will understand their allergic reactions, avoid food that provokes them, change their eating habits, learn to read labels correctly and identify the ingredients, and, in case of accidental ingestion, recognize the symptoms early and begin the right treatment.
Eight on-site workshops will be held in A Coruña, Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia and Valencia, which will be given by educators specialized in this subject. Each workshop will include games and activities related to stories and materials designed specially for the project and structured around four work modules. Moreover, another group of children will be able to follow the program online from their homes, with the same contents, using audiovisual resources like games, activities and videos for each module.
Children of any age from any city in Spain may participate in the study by registering with an online form available now on the project website: www.alergiayalimentos.com. The CESA project is backed by the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) and the Spanish Pediatrics Association.