Food allergies and your children: what to watch for
Even everyday foods could trigger allergies. Find out if your children are susceptible
Your baby just had her first bites of peaches and hours later she’s sneezing and her nose is running. Could it be a food allergy?
Possibly. Symptoms of food allergies like diarrhoea, vomiting, skin rashes, runny noses and sneezing also resemble common childhood ailments, and a true diagnosis can only be made by a doctor. If you suspect a food allergy, keep a diary for several days of what your child eats and drinks and how she reacts, then consult your paediatrician. All too often parents assume symptoms like these are caused by a food allergy and needlessly eliminate nutritious foods from their children’s diets. This is not only a disadvantage to your child, but you may be misreading the first signs of an underlying illness when you pass off a problem as food allergy.
Much of the confusion over food allergy lies in its definition. In a true food allergy the allergen (the offending food, usually a protein) triggers an immune system response, producing antibodies called immunoglobulin E. These in turn cause the release of histamines responsible for multiple symptoms of an allergic reaction, which can range from minor sneezes and sniffles to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition.
The protein in cow’s milk, egg, peanut, fish, wheat, and soy are the most common food allergens, although any food may cause an allergic reaction. An allergy to a particular food may indicate an allergy to an entire food family, which is called cross-reactivity. For example, an allergy to peanuts may mean an allergy to the legume family (kidney beans, black-eyed peas and soy beans).
Fortunately, most children do not suffer from cross-reactivity and tend to be allergic to only one or two foods. If you discover that your child suffers from multiple food allergies, you should talk to a paediatric dietician who can help create a diet that eliminates the offending foods without sacrificing nutrients.
Babies are most susceptible to food allergies. They will outgrow most of these by age three, as the immune system becomes more mature. In fact, 70–80% of infants with a milk allergy will be able to tolerate milk by age four.
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