A food allergic child has died in a London school because of an alleged case of bullying related to his allergy

The Daily Mail newspaper has echoed an event that could be a new case of bullying among teenagers. British police investigate the death of a student 13 year old, allergic to dairy products, died due to the reaction caused by a slice of cheese.

A classmate may allegedly be related to the case after to have put the cheese in the sandwich of the deceased student even knowing that he could not take it.

Multiallergic food

Karan Cheema, 13, was studying at Greenford School in London, and he suffered several food allergies, including wheat, gluten, egg and dairy products. His allergic reactions were so severe that at home he had his own refrigerator and microwave, to avoid cross contamination.

At school everyone knew his allergic condition, from teachers to students, and the principal had an emergency kit expressly for him in case of an accident.

The events occurred two weeks ago. Karan began to feel bad in the middle of the morning and the staff who attended him at the school gave him his emergency medication, but as the principal subsequently reported, it did not work.

They called an ambulance and he was quickly transferred to the hospital, but the boy died 11 days later due to cardiac arrest caused by the allergic reaction he had.

Hours after Karan was transferred to the hospital, the police arrested another student accused of attempted murder You will have to declare in the next few days. And, as reported by several parents of classmates of the deceased boy, he was being a victim of bullying and it is suspected that the arrested student was able to hide a slice of cheese in Karan's sandwich, still knowing his allergic record.

According to the Daily Mail, several witnesses said that the boy was forced to eat cheese while beaten, others who rubbed the food against his back and neck and others who threw cheese in his face.

Karan's mother has stated that her son was fully aware of his allergies but that, despite everything, he led a normal life.

"I know my son and both he and his friends were very careful with his allergies. He read the labeling of everything he bought, was independent in his diet, disciplined and very aware of the risks. He never left home without his medication and his food was always allergen free because at home it had its own fridge and microwave "

"They tell us that someone rubbed cheese on their back and neck, but at the hospital they told us that simple contact with the allergen does not cause anaphylactic shock."

Karan's family is struggling to get to the bottom of the matter and the police, so far, have not given more details of what could cause the allergic reaction of the child since the autopsy has not yet been performed.

Bullying or an unfortunate accident?

The police investigation will rule whether The death of little Karan has been the result of a terrible episode of bullying that has ended in the murder of the child or if it is an unfortunate accident.

As the mother of a food allergic child, this type of event in which bullying is mixed with allergies, shakes me.

We speak with the child psychologist Elena Frisuelos, specialized in health and food allergy issues, and I transfer a question that, as a mother involved in this issue, assails me every time I hear this kind of news: Are food allergic children more likely to suffer episodes of bullying or bullying?

"Allergic children do not have to be more likely than others to suffer bullying or harassment. It is true that they have a peculiarity that can make them an easy target for other partners, but unfortunately, as with any other child with others different conditions such as wearing glasses, being overweight or wearing an appliance on your teeth, for just a few examples. the problem is that bulliyng can affect the health of the allergic child deriving even, as we see in this case, in an anaphylactic shock "

In any case, as we have said, this sad event is being investigated but what is undeniable is that according to data from the Spanish Society of Clinical Immunology and Pediatric Allergy (SEICAP), the number of children with food allergies grows year after year and the whole society should be aware of it and the health risks that these children have.

But it is mostly in schools and between classmates and teachers, where it is awareness should be higher. Because having a food allergy is no joke.

  • Via Daily Mail, Antenna 3

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