Food allergies are a common medical condition often detected during childhood.
Understanding Food Allergies
A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to a certain food or ingredient as if it were harmful. Approximately 90% of all food allergies are caused by milk, eggs, wheat, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, or shellfish. One in every 13 children has a food allergy, and nearly 5% of children are diagnosed with one under the age of five. Certain allergies may be outgrown, while others are permanent.
Symptoms
Allergic reactions usually develop within a few minutes to an hour after eating the food. Symptoms include an itchy nose, sneezing, watery eyes, swelling of the throat, lips, or tongue, rashes, stomach cramps, and shortness of breath. In some cases, a food allergy can cause severe symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
Allergen Avoidance
Preventing contact with the allergen is the best way to help your child avoid an allergic reaction. Here are some tips to minimize risk:
- Remove the allergen from the home. Even small amounts of the food can trigger a reaction.
- When eating at a restaurant, never assume that you know the ingredients in a dish. Review the menu or ask your waiter to confirm the allergen isn’t an ingredient.
- Avoid buffet-style dining. Cross-contamination of foods from using the same serving utensils between dishes may occur.
- Inform your child’s school about the food allergy so their teacher can be sensitive to food shared in the classroom.
Treatment and Outlook
An allergy specialist can determine whether your child has any food allergies. While avoiding the allergen is the best way to avoid allergy triggers, medications can also be prescribed to reduce the immune system’s reaction and ease symptoms. You may need to carry emergency epinephrine shots to use in case your child has a severe allergic reaction.
