Food allergies are commonly found in children and teenagers these days. Allergies occur when your kid’s immune system reacts to an allergen. Food allergies in children can be either mild or serious. Thus, it is vital to know how to identify an allergic reaction and be prepared for it. If serious, your child needs to be taken to a pediatrician immediately.
In this article, I have addressed the issue of food allergies among kids, identifying symptoms and the treatment.
Food Allergies
Food allergies occur when your child reacts to something in the environment like food, dust, mites, or pollen. The factor that produced the reaction is called an allergen.
When your child has a food allergy, the body reacts to that particular food product. The body’s immune system produces antibodies to fight food allergen. As your child eats the food, the body discharges chemicals called histamine. It is the reason for allergic symptoms and can affect the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, skin, and respiratory system.
Symptoms of Allergic Reactions
Your kid may have one of the following symptoms if he/she is going through a mild or a moderate allergic reaction:
- Prickling or itchy mouth
- Stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Wheezing
- Throat stiffness
- Puffiness of the face, eyes, or lips
- Coughing
- Gruffness
- Rash, hives, or inflammation
- Red spots
- Eczema
- Asthma
- Watery, itchy, or swollen eyes
- Low blood pressure or persistent dizziness
- Severe Allergic Reaction
At times, the food allergic reaction can be severe and it is called anaphylaxis. The symptoms are often seen immediately, and it may include:
- Difficulty in talking
- Swelling of the tongue
- Fainting
- Difficulty in breathing or noisy breathing
- Persistent coughing, looking pale
- Merging of two or more symptoms affecting different parts of the body
If your child is suffering from anaphylaxis then it needs urgent medical diagnosis. Anaphylaxis can put your kid’s life at risk and is a precarious allergic reaction. In such cases, rest your child flat or make them sit. Do not let your child stand or walk. As each second matters, you need to keep your child under medical supervision as there are chances of reoccurrence of severe symptoms.
Food Allergy and Food Intolerance
There is a difference between food allergy and food intolerance. People often get puzzled as they share similar indications. The symptoms of food intolerance include nervousness, indigestion, gas, loose stools, burping, and headaches.
In children and teens, food intolerance symptoms include stomach pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. You can consult your pediatrician if you find your child has a food intolerance.
Babies can be intolerant to lactose too, and their symptoms include a red bottom and a runny poo. But food intolerance doesn’t affect the immune system. It can occur if a person can’t digest a substance. Though the situation can be repulsive, it is hardly ever dangerous.
Most Common Food Allergens
Your kid could be allergic to any food. The symptom of food allergy is usually seen within a few minutes but at times it is visible after one to two hours. The most common food allergies are:
- Peanuts
- Cow’s milk
- Soybeans
- Wheat
- Sesame
- Eggs
- Fish
- Tree nuts such as walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, or pistachios
- Shellfish such as shrimp
Do Food Allergies Last Long?
The above allergens account for 90 percent of reactions in kids. Most kids allergic to milk, wheat, eggs, or soy outgrow them by the age of five. However, kids might find it difficult to grow out of other food allergies such as peanuts, fish, shellfish, and nuts.If you are confident that your child has grown out of an allergy, then see your pediatrician immediately. Your pediatrician will advise you whether to introduce the food at home or whether it should be supervised medically.
Medical Diagnosis of Food Allergies in Children
If your child is suffering from a food allergy, the doctor will try to find out about the symptoms like:
- The frequency of food allergy reaction
- Symptoms that your child has
- If any of the family members have a history of food allergy or having asthma or eczema
- The duration between having food that caused allergy and the start of the symptoms
The doctor will try to find out the reason for the symptoms. For instance, if your child is allergic to milk and has diarrhea after drinking, then the doctor will possibly look into lactose intolerance as the cause.
Your child could also be allergic to protein gluten and may be suffering from a Celiac disease. The doctor may recommend you to an allergy or immunology specialist for further checks and tests. The allergist will order tests such as a skin-prick test and a blood test to make a diagnosis.
The allergist may also do an oral food challenge if the results are uncertain. The child is given food allergen to eat, and this is done under medical supervision. The doctor watches for symptoms, and the test is carried out at an allergist hospital equipped with urgent medical care facilities. A severe reaction may happen in the process, and anaphylaxis needs to be treated quickly. The food challenge test is given to see if your child has outgrown a food allergy.
Handling Food Allergies in Children
Many children outgrow food allergies with time, but there is no cure for food allergies yet. However, you can take some preventive measures so that your child can live with food allergies easily:
Stay Away From the Food
Keep away from the food that your child is allergic to. Even if your kid consumes a tiny amount, the allergic reaction may start sooner or later. Your child also has to stay away from the cutlery that has got in touch with the food.
Food Labels
Be careful while buying food products. Some foods have different names, for instance, cow’s milk protein may be called whey or casein. Food manufacturers in the United States have to mention the top eight food allergens: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, or shellfish. So, it is all the more necessary to read the food labels so that you can avoid the allergen.
Eating Out
While eating out in the restaurants, avoid buffets and food warmers as there is a possibility that ingredients have been moved from one dish to another. Ask the hotel staff about the ingredients used in each dish and whether it has come into contact with any other dish. But the staff may be ignorant about the ingredient used in sauces. So, it is better to be cautious while eating outside if your child has a food allergy.
Nutritious Diet
Eat a wholesome nutritious diet while pregnant or breastfeeding. Consume a variety of calcium foods like dairy products, veggies, fruits, grains, proteins, cereals, broccoli, greens, and a variety of sprouts.
There would be a risk of your baby not getting important nutrients if moms consistently avoided foods that caused allergies like eggs or peanuts. Pregnant or breastfeeding moms must eat all types of healthy foods as it would hardly lessen the risk of your baby developing allergies.
Allergenic Foods
Try to introduce allergenic solids to your babies from around six months of age. Foods like well-cooked egg, wheat, peanut butter, or cow’s milk can be introduced. Babies with a high allergy risk will develop a certain amount of resistance against allergenic foods. There is no need for your baby to avoid these foods.
Increased Risk of Food Allergy
Usually, a child has an increased risk of food allergy if one of the parents has a food allergy or has allergy problems like asthma or eczema. There are also several instances of kids suffering from food allergies even if their parents don’t have one.
Food allergy is a widespread problem worldwide. Introducing allergenic foods at an early age will help your kids develop resistance against the allergens. There is no need to panic even if your child gets an allergy. Parents can visit the doctors and take treatment as advised by them. With time, your child can easily outgrow food allergies and lead a normal healthy life!
Hope you found this article informative and helpful. Please leave your inputs in the comments!
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