Wednesday, April 17, 2024
HomeMust ReadCan You Join The Army With Peanut Allergy

Can You Join The Army With Peanut Allergy

Tree Nuts And Peanuts

Dream to join Marines blocked by peanuts

Theres often confusion between peanuts and tree nuts. Peanuts are legumes, not nuts still, between 25 and 40 percent of individuals who are allergic to peanuts also react to at least one tree nut, according to studies.

Allergists generally advise people who are allergic to tree nuts also to avoid peanuts because of the risk of cross-contact and cross-contamination between tree nuts and peanuts in food processing facilities. If you or your child is allergic to either peanuts or tree nuts, ask your allergist whether you should avoid both products.

The prevalence of these allergies in children appears to be growing, according to a 2010 study that compared data from telephone surveys of 5,300 U.S. households in 1997, 2002 and 2008. In the 2008 survey, 2.1 percent of respondents reported having a child with an allergy to peanuts, tree nuts or both. In the 2002 survey, 1.2 percent of subjects said they had a child with one or both of these allergies five years earlier, in 1997, only 0.6 percent of respondents reported having a child with one or both of these allergies.

Allergies to tree nuts and peanuts are among the most common causes of anaphylaxis in the United States. An allergist will advise patients with these allergies to carry an auto-injector containing epinephrine , which is the only treatment for anaphylactic shock, and will teach the patient how to use it. If a child has the allergy, teachers and caregivers should be made aware of his or her condition as well.

Serving With Food Allergies

Food allergies can feel like a barrier for people who wish to volunteer, whether it is joining the military or the Peace Corps. Many service organizations station members in remote locations with limited food and healthcare options. For this reason, many organizations consider a history of food allergies as a disqualifying condition for people who want to join.

Israeli Army Will Stop Drafting People With Nut Allergies

The Israel Defense Forces has decided not to recruit Israelis suffering from nut allergies following the recommendations of a committee of put together following the unfortunate death of a soldier.

The soldier, Shalev Hazan, died during his basic training after a severe allergic recation caused by mistakenly eating some granola that contained nuts. His death prompted the formation of a special committee, whose recommendations have not yet been presented to Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot or received the armys final approval for its findings, but a decision has already been made to alter some of the armys policy regarding soldiers who have severe allergies.

The changes include a decision not to draft people who have life-threatening allergies to nuts.

Up to now, the list of life-threatening allergies that would be cause for exemption from military service included severe allergies to protein, sesame and a few other basic foods. Now, in the wake of work done by the Medical Corps, young people with severe allergies to nuts will also not be drafted automatically, but be issued a medical exemption that says they are not fit for military service, with what the army calls a “profile 21.”

Recommended Reading: How To Help Puppy With Allergies

Surprising Medical Conditions That Could Bar You From Service

Its no surprise that service members must be in good physical shape to serve in the military. However, there are some medical conditions that you might not know can bar you from service.

The military lays out certain physical requirements that those wishing to serve must meet, and recruits must undergo a medical exam. When joining, they must also disclose significant medical conditions.

Sometimes waivers from medical professionals are an option for certain medical conditions, particularly ones that relate to eyesight and weight. However, others like depression and Crohns disease are likely to disqualify you from service, especially if they have affected your education or employment in the past.

It is important to note that many conditions are not always permanently disqualifying and should not dissuade potential applicants. Recruiters and military doctors will determine if they will affect your duties.

Here are eight surprising medical conditions that might prevent you from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces:

1. Food Allergies

If you have a history of food allergies, you might be disqualified from joining the military. This is because service members can serve in locations that do not have a wide variety of food options or that do not have easily accessible medical care in the case of reactions. Recruits who are merely sensitive to certain foods will not be disqualified.

2. Celiac Disease

3. Contact dermatitis

4. Asthma

5. Braces or dental ailments

6. Motion sickness

Can You Be In The Military With Adhd

Military Humor Enough said. SMILE NAVY

Apart from age and educational qualifications, the military outlines medical standards for enlistment and appointment, including an extensive list of physical, mental, and behavioral conditions that could disqualify an otherwise exceptional candidate. ADHD is classified as one of those restricted conditions.

Also Check: Do Allergies Cause A Sore Throat And Swollen Glands

Can A Peanut Allergy Come On Suddenly

The answer to the question, can you all of the sudden become allergic to peanuts? is certainly yes. Food allergies can develop at any time in an individual’s life. However, it is important to recognize that adult-onset peanut allergy appears to be far less common than other potential allergies, such as shellfish.

Joining The Military With Food Allergies

The Armed Forces are allowed to bar people with allergies because they are exempt from disability discrimination legislation.

Even if the military wasn’t exempt from this legislation, the ability to eat any food is considered an occupational requirement for serving personnel, so this discrimination would likely still be allowed. A history of food allergies is a disqualifying medical condition for individuals seeking to join the military.

People with venom allergies may be eligible if they have been desensitized with immunotherapy and no longer need to carry an EpiPen.

Although having allergies may lead to your disqualification from military service, do not lie about your allergies when applying. It is essential to be completely honest and forthright in your disclosure of these medical conditions to the military, as a failure to disclose a condition will automatically disqualify you.

If you are excluded from the military due to a history of food allergies, you can request a waiver and make an appointment with a military-approved allergist, who will require that you complete and pass an oral food challenge. Prospective recruits with oral allergy syndrome may also qualify for a waiver.

Also Check: How To Test For Copper Allergy At Home

Psychiatric And Personality Disorders

  • Any disorder or history of disorders with psychotic features
  • History of impulse control and conduct disorders
  • History of depression requiring medication, outpatient treatment or hospitalization
  • History of anxiety requiring medication, outpatient treatment or hospitalization
  • History of any eating disorder
  • Attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder or learning disability such as dyslexia, which interferes with perceptual or academic skills past the 14th birthday. Use of medications to reduce symptoms of ADD or ADHD within the previous 24 months.

Man Cannot Follow Families Military Footsteps Due To Nut Allergy

Does certain allergies prohibit you coming into the Army?

A MAN has been refused entry to the army due to a nut allergy.

Luke Potts from Grays has been told he cannot follow in his familys footsteps or achieve his childhood dream of joining the Royal Marines because of his allergy.

He initially applied for the Royal Marines aged 17 where he passed all of the written tests and interviews but he was told that his application could go no further when asked if he carried an Epipen – which he was advised to do on a precautionary basis by his doctor.

This is because of the JSP 950 tri-service medical policy which states that all allergies, especially concerning the carry of an Epipen, are a blanket medical ban.

Luke, now age 20, has been retested by the way of skin-prick and blood tests, all showing a slight reaction to cashew nut only.

He said: “I have never had to use the Epipen and it is currently out of date which shows how worried I am about my allergy.”

He found himself working a desk job in London over-looking the Honourable Artillery Company, an army reserves regiment.

Although he wished to pursue his dream career as a Royal Marine further down the line, and thinking the strict medical policies only applied to elite units like the Marines, he applied for the army reserves in May 2017 – only to be rejected for the second time.

He received his rejection via email.

Luke was not allowed to join on the grounds of having one or more disqualifying medical conditions and would not be able to take his application any further.

Read Also: How Do Allergy Pills Work

Which Nut Is Not A Nut

Some examples of true nuts include acorns, chestnuts, and hazelnuts. On the other hand, the fruits of the cashew, almond, and pistachio plants are not true nuts, but are rather classified as drupes. Drupes are fruits that are fleshy on the outside and contain a shell covering a seed on the inside.

Is Food Allergy A Disqualification For Military Service

Food allergies affect 1 in 13 children, treatment for severe food allergy reactions is up nearly 400 percent in the past decade, and a 2017 study found that nearly half of adults with food allergies developed at least one food allergy during adulthood.

Food allergies affect 1 in 13 children, treatment for severe food allergy reactions is up nearly 400 percent in the past decade, and a 2017 study found that nearly half of adults with food allergies developed at least one food allergy during adulthood. As food allergies and food-induced anaphylaxis become more prevalent across all age groups, these medical conditions will render an increasing fraction of young Americans ineligible to join the U.S. Armed Forces, while a growing number of service members will develop adult-onset food allergies while in uniform.

In 2017, the Military Allergy and Immunology Assembly of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology established a working group to evaluate and summarize the food allergy policies of the service branches that make up the U.S. Armed Forces. The resulting paper, , provides guidance so that allergists within and outside the military can provide accurate advice to individuals with food allergies who are seeking to join, or remain in, the Armed Services.

FARE’s mission is to improve the quality of life and health of those with food allergies, and to provide hope for the development of new treatments.

Recommended Reading: Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Fever

Teen Undergoes Peanut Oit To Join Marines

When he was 17, Christopher Ryan convinced his parents to sign a waiver allowing him to join the Marine Corps early along with his friends. The day before his swearing-in ceremony, Ryan received the call telling him he couldnt join due to his peanut allergy.I thought really, he said. Over a peanut allergy? Its that big of a deal?The Corps is concerned about their MREs or Meals Ready to Eat, rations that are consumed during training and in the field during combat. The concern stems from the possibility of peanut cross-contact which could be life-threatening for a jarhead recruit with a peanut allergy.Its just something Ive always wanted to do, Ryan said. I was on top of the world. I was going to fulfill my dream. I was going to make a difference like I always wanted to. The next day I got disqualified.

Is Tree Nut Allergy Airborne

Soy Nut Butter vs. Peanut Butter

Asked by: Prof. Camron Schuppe

They found no detectable peanut levels from 3 air filters tested in a restaurant where individuals were deshelling and eating peanut. Investigators concluded that the risk of exposure to peanut on an airplane stems from potentially contaminated surfaces and not from airborne levels.

Don’t Miss: Is Allergy Medicine Good After Expiration Date

Can You Be In The Military With A Nut Allergy

Submenu for I am a Individuals with a history of food-allergy anaphylaxis or a systemic reaction to food do not meet military accession or retention standards and require a waiver in order to serve in the military. First-line treatment for anaphylaxis includes rapid administration of epinephrine.

Can you get a waiver for food allergies in the military?

An individual excluded from the Armed Services on the basis of food allergy history can request a waiver, which may be granted depending on the results of an appointment with an allergist.

Is a peanut allergy considered a disability under the ADA?

Food allergies are usually considered disabilities under the ADA. Under the ADA, students who have food allergy are considered to have a disability which restricts their diet.

Neurological And Learning Disorders

Seizure disorders and recurrent or severe headaches may be disqualifying, and waivable only be determined on a case-by-case basis. A history of learning disorders such as attention deficit disorder may only be considered for waiver if an applicant has demonstrated successful academic performance off stimulant medication or other treatment for at least 15 months and if no educational accommodations have been required.

You May Like: Can You Take Midol With Allergy Medicine

What Are The First Signs Of A Peanut Allergy

Peanut allergy signs and symptoms can include:

  • Skin reactions, such as hives, redness or swelling.
  • Itching or tingling in or around the mouth and throat.
  • Digestive problems, such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting.
  • Tightening of the throat.

Does A Peanut Allergy Disqualify You From The Air Force

Joining the Army with a medical, legal, or mental issue | FT TEAM SWARTZ

If you have a history of food allergies, you might be disqualified from joining the military. This is because service members can serve in locations that do not have a wide variety of food options or that do not have easily accessible medical care in the case of reactions.

Can you get rid of a peanut allergy?

Is There Currently a Cure for Peanut Allergy? There is no cure for peanut allergies. Palforzia is a type of oral immunotherapy that is approved for use in treating peanut allergies. It is a daily medication that may reduce symptoms in some people who have a peanut allergy.

Can you outgrow peanut allergy?

Studies show that an estimated 2025% of children experiencing a peanut allergy will outgrow it. Of those that outgrow their allergy, 80% do so by the age of eight.

How do you get rid of a peanut allergy?

There is no cure for peanut allergies. Palforzia is a type of oral immunotherapy that is approved for use in treating peanut allergies. It is a daily medication that may reduce symptoms in some people who have a peanut allergy.

Is a severe nut allergy a disability?

In another case in 2012, it was found that a chef with a severe nut allergy was disabled. It is important to note that allergies are not specifically excluded from the definition of disability.

Do food allergies qualify as a disability?

Can a person with a peanut allergy serve in the Air Force?

Recommended Reading: How To Know If You Have Dust Allergies

Common Disqualifying Medical Conditions

This list is provided to help you understand medical conditions that may be disqualifying for admission to the Coast Guard Academy. The list is not inclusive, but rather reflects the conditions that most commonly arise. Please consider this list as a factor in your decision to apply. Your military medical exam is the definitive source for qualification decisions.

Can You Join National Defence/canadian Armed Forces If You Have A Severe Peanut Allergy

  • Answered 24 July 2018 – Soldier – Various

    Yes you can. Just be sure to wear your medical alert

    Upvote

  • Answered 13 March 2018 – Mobile Equipment Operator – Chilliwack, BC

    Not sure, would say so with technology these days with the epinephrine shots available.

    UpvoteReport

  • Answered 8 February 2018 – Squadron Sargeant Major – Winnipeg, MB

    Yes, however it must be noted that we are unable to verify that all foods didn’t come in contact with Nuts.

    UpvoteReport

  • Answered 5 February 2018 – Soldier – Kenora, ON

    Joining the Military requires commitment to the Nation. To defend our great Nation takes physically strong men and women. The Department of Defense has a set of medical standards for citizens who wish to join the military. These standards protect both the government and the individuals. People cannot have any contagious disease, physical defect, and medical condition. Allergies are on the medical checklist that you will be medically evaluated on at the Military Entrance Processing Station

    Upvote

Recommended Reading: Is Peanut Flour Safe For Peanut Allergy

Spine And Other Musculoskeletal

  • Any deviation or curvature of the spine likely to impair normal function or wearing of proper military uniform or gear or causes physical symptoms. Lumbar or thoracic scoliosis greater than 30 degrees.
  • Herniated disc or history of surgical correction of this condition
  • History of chronic or recurrent low back pain
  • Surgical or congenital fusion of any part of the spine

Can You Join The Peace Corps With Food Allergies

25+ Best Memes About Butter

Due to the lack of available health infrastructure in Peace Corps countries, the Peace Corps typically does not clear applicants who have a variety of allergic conditions, including life-threatening anaphylactic reactions, multiple allergens, multiple antibiotic allergies, poorly controlled asthma, or severe eczema.

While each medical application is assessed on a case-by-case basis, these conditions will likely prevent someone’s acceptance if they are not likely to complete the 27 months of service required without the threat of unreasonable disruption due to allergic reactions. If a potential volunteer only has mild or moderate non-life-threatening food allergies, it is possible that they will be able to serve after signing a form promising to carry an EpiPen at all times.

You May Like: How Common Is Banana Allergy

Can You Join The Army If You Have Allergies

An Army spokesman said: Anyone wishing to join the Army is issued with a guidelines which include a list of medical condition that preclude entry. We cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment especially when on operations. An Army spokesman said: We cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment especially when on operations.

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular