Babies and young children can develop food intolerance,
mostly when they are weaned off breast or formula
milk. Often food intolerance gets confused with food
allergy but there are underlying differences between
the two.
Differences between Delayed
food reaction and Acute Allergy
• The easiest way to look at the difference
between the two is that in acute allergy the child's
body becomes sensitized to the substance and produces
antibodies to counter it. This happens whenever the
body encounters the 'forbidden substance', never mind
the quantity or the number of times.
• A child with a food allergy must avoid the
food completely, more so if the reaction is severe.
A child with food intolerance doesn't have to be as
finicky; a small amount of the offending food can
be tolerated.
• An example that distinguishes the two well
enough is: a lactose intolerant baby lacks the enzyme
to digest the milk sugar and may consequently suffer
abdominal pain, gassiness and possibly diarrhea. On
the other hand a baby with true milk allergy will
also have blood and/or mucus in the stool.
Food intolerance or food sensitivity causes a delayed
response to occur that propagates with time. It doesn't
necessarily involve any immune response. Food intolerances
can build over time and are usually caused by foods
given on a frequent basis to your child, unknowingly
of course. Such response to food is classified as
Type II allergy (IgG).
Food
intolerances are not allergic reactions
because there is no immune response
to the allergen. |
|
Signs of Food Intolerance
Often there is a delayed response and the reaction
can be difficult to isolate. Food intolerance is mostly
associated with foods eaten on a daily basis, often
several times a day from a very early age, such as
bread and milk. Rotating foods by providing a varied
diet to your child helps control the development of
food sensitivity.
Colic
in babies
|
| Vomiting |
| Digestive problems
and stomach aches |
| Poor appetite |
| Persistent diarrhea |
| Recurrent ear infections |
| Asthma |
| Rash around mouth
area |
| Rhinitis (runny or
congested nose) |
| Eczema |
| Urticaria (hives) |
| Migraines or headaches |
| Hyperactivity |
| Aching muscles and
unexplained fatigue |
|
Dairy Intolerance
One of the main offenders, dairy (milk and related
products) causes common problems of runny nose (chronic
rhinitis) and blocked ears (otitis media) in children.
You may wonder why a baby who had no issues with breast
milk has problems with cow's milk. Milk is milk, right!
Well no, there is a slight variation: mother's milk
contains a much higher content of EFA than cow's milk.
Fortunately formula milk today contains a higher ratio
of EFA which can help in the prevention of eczema
and other skin problems in your baby. But once your
child is older he may react to cow's, goat's and sheep's
milk and other dairy products when he is off formula.
With constant afflictions, repeat doses of antibiotics
do little to remove the symptoms permanently because
the cause is food and not an infection. Going dairy-free
totally first for 3 whole weeks may establish and
confirm the cause of the ordeal instead of resorting
to other more severe measures. Alternatives to dairy
include soya (if your child is not sensitive to soy)
and rice milk.
Wheat (gluten) Intolerance
Wheat flour is virtually found in every bread, cereal,
cake, pasta and biscuit today. Gluten is the protein
part of four main grains namely wheat, barley, oats
and rye. (Gluten content in oats is fairly low in
comparison to the other three grains). What gluten
does is create a glue-like consistency in the digestive
tract which then interferes with your child's nutrient
absorption. Symptoms of gluten intolerance include
skin problems, blocked nose or ears, fatigue or extreme
drowsiness after meals. A severe form of gluten sensitivity
is also known as celiac disease. Symptoms of celiac
include constant diarrhea, stomach pains, and the
inability to gain weight. For children with celiac
their diets become extremely restrictive. Fortunately
this disease is rare. As with dairy, removing all
grains from your child's diet will give an indication
if this particular food group is the cause of your
child's discomforts. Grains that do not contain gluten
are rice, corn, millet and quinoa.
Keep
a food diary and make a record for 2-3
weeks to evaluate if certain foods are
coinciding with the reactions. |
|
Citrus Fruits
Fresh oranges and strawberries are fruits to avoid
as they trigger rashes and eczema in children with
this sensitivity. Also avoid fruit yogurts and squashes
containing these fruits. Go for 'safe' fruits such
as apples, bananas, pears, cantaloupes, melons, plums,
apricots and dried fruits. Watch your child closely
when you give them citrus fruits for their reactions.
Nightshade Vegetable Intolerance
This includes tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant and
peppers. This group of vegetables is hard to digest
and should not be introduced to your baby until she
is a year old. (Yam and sweet potatoes belong to another
group so are safe foods for babies.) Nightshade vegetables
can cause small holes to appear in baby's immature
intestinal lining, and can deplete baby's minerals
and even cause diarrhea. Introduce only small quantities
after your baby crosses her 12th month. Tomatoes can
be particularly allergenic in babies and small children.
Tomato ketchup, canned tomatoes and tomato soup may
also trigger reactions. Early consumption of tomatoes
causes eczema and hyperactivity in children.
Look at your child's face
for Clues
There are facial symptoms to food allergy or intolerance,
the most common is the dark shadows under the eyes.
Often this symptom is indicative of a problem with
wheat. Get your child assessed to rule out celiac
disease. Clues to look out for include:
• Dark shadows under the eyes known as allergic
shiners.
• Creases in her lower lids
• A running nose irrespective of her having
a cold or not
• Red ears
Food
intolerances are escalating in recent
times due to the massive increase in
the use of additives, colorings that
are now added to foods to prolong shelf
life or simply appear more appealing
to a child's eye. |
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