September 16, 2018 0 Comments

Spotting Food allergy in Toddlers – Prevent your toddler’s food nightmares

It is common for children to develop sensitivity to food due to their immature body systems. There are two issues children can face when introduced to new foods either a food allergy or food intolerance.

Food allergy which may also be referred to as allergic food hypersensitivity happens when the body reacts to certain foods with an abnormal immunological reaction. This reaction may be repeatable which means that every time the food is eaten there is a chance for the same reaction every single time. Food allergy can happen based on Immunoglobulin E: IgE mediated allergic reactions and Non-IgE mediated allergic reactions

IgE mediated allergic reactions involve an antibody, called IgE, which circulates in the blood. A qualified healthcare professional can detect this by taking an allergy-focused history along with a skin-prick test or a blood test. In IgE mediated allergies, symptoms such as hives, rashes, and facial swelling tend to come on very quickly. The most serious reaction, known as anaphylaxis, can lead to respiratory or cardiac failure, and a severe drop in blood pressure. Reactions range from mild to severe and in some rare cases, allergic reactions to food can be life-threatening. 2-4 percent of 1-3-year-olds suffer from food allergies or intolerances. These reactions may include asthma, breathing difficulties, eczema flare, hives, itching, pallor, rashes, redness, swelling of lips, tongue, face, sudden diarrhea, vomiting, wheezing.

Non-IgE mediated allergic reactions tend to develop more slowly (2 hours up to a couple of days). No blood test or skin prick test is available to aid diagnosis, as it is not IgE mediated. The diagnosis is reliant on a healthcare professional taking an allergy-focused history and an elimination diet that leads to symptom improvement. Typical symptoms and signs include eczema, abdominal pain and colicky symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting, redness around the anus, constipation and faltering growth with at least one of the symptoms listed above. Food intolerance, also known as non-allergic food hypersensitivity, does not involve the immune system and therefore food intolerances are unpleasant but not life-threatening. Such reactions may be triggered by substances naturally found in foods such as histamine and salicylate and enzyme deficiencies (e.g. lactose intolerance). Histamine and salicylates in food can cause reactions similar to food allergies, such as hives and skin rashes but tend to be dose-dependent. Lactose intolerance causes diarrhea, wind and stomach cramps.

Tips to deal with Food Allergies

  1. Read Labels – Even though your child is not sensitive to the main ingredients there may be an additive or a cooking method which can cause a reaction. The label will tell you the entire ingredient in the food.
  2. Homemade is best – Not only is it healthier, but you’ll know exactly what’s in your baby’s food with no need to worry about a reaction.
  3. Cook it – With certain food, the allergies or intolerance is caused by lack of enzymes to break the food down. Occasionally children can tolerate cooked version of the food better than the food in raw form, particularly with fruit and vegetable sensitivities.
  4. Get Support – If your child has recently been diagnosed with an allergy or intolerance it can be a lot to take on. You will probably want lots of advice from those who have been there and done it. Try to connect with other parents facing the same struggles. Great places to start are charity support groups or online forums.
  5. Let others Know – It’s important to inform any caregivers of your child’s allergy or intolerance. If there is any potential for food to be eaten then they need to be alerted. Common places to inform include school, friends parents and clubs. This will minimize the risk of any attacks when you are not around.

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