Couldn\'t believe this when a girl I worked with told me about it. But then I found it on the internet and as we all know, if it\'s on the internet it can\'t be wrong.
Peanut Death Kiss Wednesday ? November 30 ? 2005
Peanut allergy the kiss of death for teenage girl
Charlie Fidelman
CanWest News Service
Saturday, November 26, 2005
MONTREAL -- A Chicoutimi, Que., high school is in mourning after a 15-year-old girl with a food allergy died suddenly after kissing her boyfriend who had eaten peanut butter.
Christina Desforges died earlier this week, after receiving the kiss during the weekend. A shot of adrenaline failed to revive her. She died in hospital Wednesday.
"It\'s a very sad event. (Classmates) are feeling emotional and we had them meet with a psychologist," said school board official Michel Cloutier.
Health Canada estimates some 600,000 Canadians have potentially deadly allergies -- many of them triggered by certain foods. Approximately one to two per cent of Canadians -- perhaps eight per cent of children -- are allergic to peanuts and/or tree nuts.
Nuts, milk, eggs and shell fish top the list, but peanut is the main cause of fatal allergy reactions said Ernest Seidman, immunology and food allergies researcher at Ste. Justine Hospital in Montreal.
When someone comes in contact with an allergen, the symptoms of a reaction may develop quickly and rapidly progress from mild to severe, according to Health Canada. The most dangerous symptoms include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock, which may result in loss of consciousness and even death. Severe allergic reactions can occur quickly and without warning.
Even trace amounts can be fatal, which is why food labelling is so crucial and why most schools have banned peanuts, Seidman said. People with a nut allergy can have an immediate anaphylactic reaction if they kiss someone who has recently eaten the offending substance, he added.
Antibodies to the allergen provoke facial swelling, respiratory distress, bronchial spasms, a drop in blood pressure and hives.
? Times Colonist (Victoria) 2005
i heard this on the news today
nut allergies are crazy. i serve ice cream to people with em all the time, precautions must be taken. I almost accidently killed my friend Mike\'s wife by serving her a flavor with almonds in it.
^big boss mike?! if so, i\'m surprised he didn\'t kill you.
heard the news coming into work today. poor kids, that\'s sad. i never knew someone could die from an allergic reaction to peanuts.
Big Mike most certainly aint my FRIEND. but actually now that i think about it, you may know the dude cuz hes from your old town, Mike Maron, with the super freaky Gauged out ears? anyways, hes a freakshow, and his wife\'s got a weird freaky allergy.
mikey gages-of course i know him, real nice guy. i used to hook him up with ice cream all the time.
damn canadians. i read this in the nyt so it is definitely true to their standards