Some babies develop allergies to certain foods as
they grow older. No longer being exclusively on breast
or formula milk, babies develop an allergic reaction
to certain food types. Many young babies outgrow the
allergy by the time they are two, but some continue
to stay sensitive to allergenic foods such as peanuts,
shellfish throughout their lives as such allergies
remain.
Food allergy occurs when the immune system over-reacts
to certain foods. When a particular food enters your
child's body the immune system reacts by attacking
that food quite immediately. This type of allergic
response is classified as Type I allergy (IgE). Estimates
show that one in ten children is prone to a food allergy.
| If
your child has had an allergic reaction
to a particular food in the past, the
attack might be more severe the second
time round. Do not ignore mild reactions. |
|
Signs of an Allergic Reaction
Allergic reactions are almost immediate provoked by
an immune response to the food allergen, and the signs
include one or more of the following:
Vomiting
|
| Diarrhea |
| Itching around the
mouth area |
| Swelling in the face
area e.g. lips, eyes, tongue |
| Rashes |
| Increased heart rate |
| Abdominal pain |
| Difficulty in breathing,
wheezing |
|
Allergic reactions can be controlled by not giving
the suspected food to your child. Feed your child
a varied wholesome diet and avoid introducing potentially
allergic causing food to the very young child, especially
if there is a family history.
| Is
your child having runny, congested nose,
dark rings under eyes, line across bridge
of nose caused by constant rubbing, or
red ears? This means your child has an
'allergic face'. |
|
List of Common Allergies
The most common food allergens in babies and children
are cow's milk, nuts, eggs, soy products, shellfish
and citrus fruits. Fortunately children are less allergic
to foods that possess the greatest potential to trigger
dire reactions such as shellfish, sesame. Below are
the highlights of the more common allergy-causing
foods.
Peanut and Tree nuts Allergy
Peanuts belong to the legume family and not to the
nut family contrary to popular belief. An allergic
reaction arises because of the protein present in
it. Unlike other food allergens such as dairy, peanut
allergy becomes severe over time and doesn't go away
as the child grows older. Tree nuts is what is known
as 'true' nuts and includes cashews, brazil nuts,
walnuts, cashews, pistachios, chestnuts (not water
chestnut), almonds, pecans and pine nuts. Because
of cross-contamination, it is safer to avoid all nuts
if there is an allergy to peanuts. Avoid seeds, in
particular sesame seeds as well. Coconuts do not belong
to this category and can be added to the diet. The
most severe form of reaction is the very harsh, life-threatening
anaphylaxis in which the throat swells up, breathing
and talking becomes difficult and rashes can appear.
If there is a family history of eczema, asthma etc,
do not introduce any sort of nut to the child until
the age of 3. However if there is no such history
small amounts of nut oils, smooth nut butters or grounded
nuts can be introduced after 7 months.
Egg Allergy
Egg allergy is most common under 12 months and becomes
progressively less of a food hazard after this period.
Egg white can be highly allergenic and is therefore
not encouraged before the child turns one. Although
some doctors allow egg yolk at nine months, the yellow
and the whites can get mixed up. To play it safe it
is better to introduce the egg as a whole after a
child is a year old. When the baby is a year old,
her immune system is mature enough to handle it. Most
children outgrow egg sensitivity by the time they
turn 6 but few continue to react to this food as adults.
Signs include a rash around the mouth within seconds
of consuming the egg, followed by a swelling around
the inside of the mouth and on the face. Some babies
vomit. After a while parts of the skin can swell,
eczema may develop and/or wheezing or watery eyes.
Apart from egg, look out for the ingredient 'albumen'
on food labels and avoid it.
Cow's Milk Allergy
Milk allergy often manifests early, in the first year
of life when the child is on milk-based formula. It
doesn't manifest when the baby is on breast milk or
hydrolysate formula. Symptoms include abdominal pains,
runny nose and wheezing, diarrhea, and vomiting commonly
caused by the reaction to milk protein known as casein.
Most often babies outgrow the sensitivity by three.
Cow milk should not be given until the child is one
due to poor tolerance. Children with this allergy
generally cannot tolerate any milk or milk products.
If your child is allergic to the milk protein, goat's
milk may cause a similar reaction. If a child doesn't
outgrow this allergy, a dairy free diet will need
to be incorporated.
| Virtually
any food or food additive can be a cause
for an allergic reaction. Read food labels
relentlessly. |
|
Did you know..
• A baby's intestines are immature and therefore porous.
This allows food particles to pass through the intestinal
wall into the bloodstream. The immune system identifies
the 'unwanted food' and attacks it, and this triggers
an allergic reaction.
• Inherited allergies i.e. those that run in the family
are called atopy.
• Many allergens are hidden in processed foods. Examples
are nut oils, lecithin, vegetable fats, and hydrolyzed
vegetable protein from soya bean. Many allergens (wheat,
dairy) come in other guises. Examples include semolina,
couscous, durum, malt, cereal protein, whey, lactose,
casein etc. Reading food labels becomes an essential
must to ensure you are removing such offending ingredients
from your child's diet.
