Research shows that there are around 170 types of food that can cause allergies. The most common are eggs, peanuts, fish, seafood, soya, wheat, dried fruits and cow’s milk and these are the causes of 90% of food allergies.
A child has a food allergy when his immune system reacts inappropriately against a protein found within certain foods known as an allergen. The most common symptoms of food allergy are listed below. The symptoms will vary from one child to another.
* Rash
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Inflammation
* Cramp
* Eczema
* Itching or swelling of the mouth, lips or tongue
* Low blood pressure
* Breathing difficulties
You may normally notice food allergies in your child between the ages of 1 and 2 because their immune system is not fully developed yet. In a severe allergic reaction, the throat may close up which is a symptom of anaphylactic shock. The hospital may give an adrenaline shot for a severe case like this. For non-severe cases, an antihistamine bought over-the-counter or from your doctor is suitable for treatment.
To prevent a reoccurrence, the parent may need to keep track of the food taken by the child. Generally, the child will grow out of certain food allergies as he grows older. However, there are also cases where the food allergies remain and the child continues to monitor the food he eats.
Does your child have a food allergy? My kids seem fine except for my second son who developed severe rashes when he was given a certain type of antibiotic at around age two. The doctor switched him to a different type of medicine and he was fine after that.