#40 - Food allergies in the media - the good and the bad

Dr. G and Kortney chat with Dr. Manisha Relan about how food allergies are portrayed in the media both the bad and good sides. They briefly talk about the medical side of anaphylaxis before diving head first into breaking down some famous food allergy scenes.    Dr. Manisha Relan is a pediatric allergist and clinical immunologist at a private practice in central New York, where she sees both children and adults for all things allergy. She loves learning and teaching. During fellowship, she was in charge of anaphylaxis training via a simulation lab experience; in her practice she is passionate about women’s health, food allergies, rhinitis, and immunotherapy. She maintains a personal professional Instagram account @pedsallergymd where you can follow her for more.    What we cover in this episode: The 3 definitions of anaphylaxis. How movies and TV shows help patients describe their allergic reactions. How allergists use movies and TV shows to help understand what their patients have experienced. Why media should ensure they are properly portraying food allergies. The negative impacts of media using food allergies as a joke.  How does this directly impact the food allergy community? The misinformation being portrayed by the media when showing an allergic reaction.  Beyond humour, the other focus in media is harming people who have food allergies. How does this bullying impact people managing allergies? Should kids sit at an allergy table? What shows are doing it right?  The scenes discussed in this podcast episode: Adults Reacting Friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub3sE1ww6ac Allergy: kiwi. Ross is allergic to lobster, peanuts, kiwi. He eats a kiwi-lime pie thinking it was key-lime.  Symptoms: throat/tongue swelling Treatment: goes to hospital Hitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdDPoFcBZEY Allergy: seafood.  Symptoms: throat feels itchy (trying to scratch the throat), swelling.  Treatment: Running to a pharmacy, buying Benadryl is not an accurate way to treat it. Monster-in-Law: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHpyl6uVPrw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XC_Zee8XA Allergy: almonds.  Symptoms: tongue swelling and lips.  Treatment: not shown Peter Rabbit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VwWPnHZMrs Allergy: blackberry Symptoms: not really shown Treatment: Has epipen on him, no hesitation to use it.  Kids/Teens Reacting Daniel Tiger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysEk_aLvGYg Allergy: peach Symptoms: itchy, hives - red bumps, tummy ache  Treatment: liquid medication Arthur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ5JB7z7nOk Allergy: peanut Symptoms: itchy Treatment: adrenaline pen Freaks and Geeks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE65VbUBGbI Allergy: peanut Symptoms: we just see him on a stretcher with an oxygen mask, coma Treatment: called ambulance Additional resources: List of other scenes portraying allergic reactions from Everyday Allergen-Free  Opper, C. E. (2015). Food Allergy Framing in Entertainment Media: The Use of Humor and Its Influence on Health Thoughts and Behavior [Senior Honors Thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]. Carolina Digital Repository.