Identifying and Treating Your Child’s Food Allergies
Many foods can cause allergic reactions in children. The most common are cow’s milk and other dairy products, eggÃ?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ whites, and poultry.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Seafood, wheat, nuts, soy protein and chocolate can also cause reactions.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Allergic symptoms may include a runny, itchy nose, sneezing and coughing.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Children may also have stomach pain, cramping or diarrhea, skin rashes and even facial swelling.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Some allergic reactions can be so severe that they can lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis – a combination of symptoms that include difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ These reactionsÃ?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ occur right after your child eats a certain food – or hours or even days later.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Some parents also claim that food allergies can cause changes in their child’s behavior and mood.
Diagnosing food allergies is difficult.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Other medical problems can cause the same symptoms, and pinpointing the offending food can be tough.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Your pediatrician may refer your child to an allergist, or may suggest an “elimination diet.”Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ That’s when you remove from your child’s diet the foods you suspect are causing the problem, and closely monitor her to see if her symptoms go away.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
Once you confirm which food is the culprit, you can help your child avoid that food, especially as an ingredient in other foods. �¯�¿�½Experts say many people outgrow food allergies, although allergic reactions to peanuts, nuts, fish, and shellfish often remain throughout adulthood.�¯�¿�½�¯�¿�½
A food allergy is not the same as a food intolerance.�¯�¿�½ Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to food that does not involve the immune system. �¯�¿�½For example, people with lactose intolerance may experience symptoms such as gas, bloating, and abdominal pain when they eat dairy products.
