introduction to food allergies in children
Any food can induce an allergic reaction, but only six common foods or food groups cause 90% of food allergies in children: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat. Peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish cause a similar percentage of severe allergies in adults. Fruit and vegetable allergies are far less prevalent and usually less severe.
Food allergies in kids
Causes of food allergies in children
Cow’s Milk
Cow’s milk allergy is one of the most common hypersensitivity reactions in young children, most likely because it is the first foreign protein that many infants consume in such great quantities, especially if they are bottle-fed. If a child is allergic to cow’s milk, he or she may experience colic or eczema unless milk and dairy products are avoided. Cow’s milk allergy symptoms affect 2 to 3 out of every 100 children under the age of three.
The most typical symptom of a milk allergy in a child is vomiting after eating, but more severe reactions can develop. In extremely young newborns, colic, weeping, and gassiness may be the only symptoms of cow’s milk allergy. (It should be noted, however, that in the vast majority of infants, no cause for colic is ever discovered, and the inconsolable weeping gradually ceases without therapy, never to return, when the baby is 6 months old.
Other early and subtle symptoms of milk allergy include an itchy, dry rash (atopic dermatitis). The most evident type of milk reaction is when a youngster drinks milk or consumes a milk product and promptly develops breathing issues or hives. Most children who are allergic to cow’s milk are also allergic to goat’s or sheep’s milk, therefore these are not suitable replacements.
Soy-based formula may or may not be appropriate for milk-allergic newborns because some people who are allergic to cow’s milk are also allergic to soy protein. If your cow’s milk-allergic baby is unable to tolerate soy formula, your pediatrician may advise you to use a special formula consisting of severely hydrolyzed protein or an amino acid elemental formula.
As their immune systems mature, many youngsters outgrow milk allergies. However, before your child tries milk again, your pediatrician will most likely recommend allergy testing. If testing confirms that the allergy has resolved, your child can be given milk in gradually increasing amounts in the doctor’s office, where any reaction can be watched and, if required, treated. If your child only has lactose intolerance, allergy testing is usually unnecessary, and milk and milk products can be gradually reintroduced at home while symptoms are monitored. In supermarkets, there are products with varied levels of lactose sugar content that allow lactose-intolerant youngsters to consume milk.
Milk and milk-derived foods are high in calcium, a mineral required for strong bones and teeth, muscle and nerve function, and the overall health of the body. Many rich nondairy calcium sources for older children who cannot tolerate milk, cheese, or yogurt include dark-green leafy vegetables, canned fish eaten with the bones (e.g., sardines, salmon), calcium-fortified orange juice, dried figs and prunes, tofu, and dry beans.
Eggs
Children who are allergic to eggs are mostly reacting to the protein found in the egg white. However, because egg yolk is frequently mixed with egg white, egg-allergic children should avoid egg completely. Fortunately, while eggs are nutritionally valuable and a rich source of protein, they are not required for proper nutrition. Meat, fish, dairy products, cereals, and legumes are all good providers of protein, minerals, and vitamins. If your child is sensitive to eggs, be on the lookout for concealed egg ingredients like an egg-based glaze on top of specific breads or egg used to hold breading on fried food.
Egg alternatives designed for low-cholesterol diets are not permitted. They are cholesterol-free (since they do not contain the yolk, which contains cholesterol), but they still contain egg protein because they are manufactured with egg white, which contains the protein that causes allergies. Some vaccines may include egg proteins and should be avoided or used with caution by people who are allergic to eggs. The measles-mumps-rubella vaccination is deemed safe for those who are allergic to eggs, but consult your doctor about seasonal influenza vaccines and other vaccines that may include egg proteins.
Peanuts and Tree Nuts
When is a nut no longer a nut? When it’s a legume, such as peanuts, which are relatives to peas and beans. Because peanuts and tree nuts are from different plant families, a youngster who is allergic to peanuts may be able to eat walnuts, pecans, and other tree nuts without incident. However, due to unknown reasons, peanut-allergic youngsters are more likely to simultaneously have a secondary tree-nut allergy.
Peanuts, like eggs, are delicious and nutritious, but they are not required for a healthy diet. There is no need for nutritional supplements. Most people with a peanut allergy tolerate other legumes like soy and beans, even if skin or blood testing for these other legumes come up positive.
Peanuts, while normally easy to avoid, can occasionally appear in dishes when least expected. Peanuts are frequently crushed and utilized as bulking agents in foods such as sweets. Restaurants and caterers may use peanut butter as a “glue” in food preparation to hold the food item together. As a result, it is critical that you not only carefully read labels to ensure that peanuts are not hidden ingredients in commercial foods, but that you also question and clarify the content of food purchased and consumed in restaurants, or prepared and consumed in locations other than your own home.
Allergy to tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, cashews, Brazil nuts, almonds, hazel nuts; any nuts in hard shells) can be as serious as peanut allergy, and the same precautions must be taken. One youngster may be allergic to only one tree nut, whilst another may be allergic to several tree nuts. Confusion regarding the many varieties of tree nuts can occur at times, thus tree-nut-allergic individuals often avoid them entirely to be cautious. Inform caregivers, teachers, friends, and family members that your child must avoid all goods containing even a trace of nuts or peanuts because nut allergy is the most severe of all food allergies.
Soy
Babies fed soy formula, like cow’s milk, may develop a rash, runny nose, wheezing, diarrhea, or vomiting due to soy protein allergy. Some infants who are sensitive to cow’s milk are also allergic to soy after switching to a soy formula. If this is the case, your doctor may advise you to use a low-allergenic formula containing extensively hydrolyzed protein or an amino acid elemental formula. Soy oil is commonly tolerated by children with soy allergies since it contains less protein. Soy lecithin is a fatty soy derivative that is extremely low in soy protein and is frequently tolerated by people who are allergic to soy.
Wheat and Gluten
Rice and oats are typically the first cereals put into the diet since they are less likely to induce allergic reactions than other grains. If oats are not a problem, wheat is given next. Wheat is the grain most commonly related with allergies, yet it is still a rare food allergy. This is advantageous because wheat may be found in a wide variety of prepared dishes.
Wheat causes two forms of unfavorable immunological reactions. The first is a traditional food allergy, with symptoms such as hives or wheeze occurring shortly after the child consumes a wheat-containing item. The second condition is known as celiac disease. Gluten is a protein that is found in cereals like wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten affects the lining of the small intestine and interferes with nutrient absorption in a sensitive youngster. This type of harm can go undiagnosed for a long time.
Celiac disease is characterized by gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea, irritability, poor weight gain, and sluggish growth. Celiac disease may manifest as soon after the newborn consumes his first bowl of cereal, but in some cases, symptoms are so modest that the ailment might linger for years without being diagnosed until adolescence or even adulthood.
Symptoms of food allergies in children
Food Allergies in children Notes
If your child develops signs of allergies after eating a certain item, remove it from the diet and consult with your pediatrician.
Some youngsters who are allergic to milk or eggs may accept a little amount of milk or egg if it is cooked into a baked item like bread or muffins. Other youngsters, however, react to even this small, highly hot amount.
A youngster who avoids various foods due to a food allergy may be at danger of malnutrition. Discuss with your doctor the possibility of seeing a qualified dietitian to seek expert advice on how to feed your child who has major dietary limitations.
Your child with a food allergy should be able to participate in all activities except eating the food to which she is allergic. Discuss allergen avoidance with your pediatrician or allergist, as well as dietary and treatment alternatives to maintain a safe and healthy lifestyle.
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