It can be problematic and distressing to have a child with a food allergy. You’ll need to keep an eye on their diet.
Food allergies in children might be challenging to recognize. The only way to know if your child has a food allergy is to get an official diagnosis from a healthcare professional. However, you should be aware of various warning signs and symptoms of food allergies.
The main difficulty is that most parents are unaware that their children are allergic to food until they try it for the first time and experience a reaction. That is why parents, babysitters, teachers, and everyone else who spends time with the child should be alert for signs of a food allergy.
This blog by Pakistan Observer, the best platform for lifestyle news in Pakistan, will help you learn more about food allergies in children and how to overcome such problems.
What Sort Of Food Is Responsible For Allergies In Children?
When a child develops a food allergy, their immune system reacts incorrectly, producing antibodies against the food like a virus. Allergy symptoms are the result of an immune reaction.
The most common food allergy triggers in children include peanuts and tree nuts (walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios), cow’s milk, fish, eggs, and shellfish (lobster, shrimp), soy, and wheat.
Food Allergies’ Symptoms
A true food allergy can impair your child’s breathing, digestive tract, heart, and skin. A child with a food allergy will experience one or more of the following symptoms within minutes to an hour after eating the meal. Some of the symptoms include congestion, cough, diarrhea, runny nose, dizziness, lightheadedness, itching around the mouth or ears, nausea, red, itchy bumps on the skin, itchy rash (eczema), shortness of breath, sneezing, strange taste in the mouth, stomach pain, swelling of the lips, tongue, and face, and vomiting.
When To Seek Emergency Assistance?
Some children develop a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis in response to foods such as peanuts or shellfish. Get immediate medical attention if your child has trouble breathing or swallowing after consuming anything.
Anaphylaxis symptoms include chest tightness, disorientation, fainting, coughing, unconsciousness, shortness of breath, swollen lips, throat, and tongue, difficulty swallowing, turning blue, or a weak pulse.
Children with severe food allergies should carry an epinephrine (adrenaline) auto-injector with them at all times in case of an allergic reaction. Both the child and those who care for them should learn how to use the injector.
Food Allergy Vs Food Intolerance?
Your child’s reaction to a particular meal does not always imply that they are allergic to it. Some foods cause food intolerance in some children. The difference is that a food allergy affects the child’s immune system, whereas food intolerance affects the digestive system. Food intolerance is significantly more common than food allergy reactions.
Food allergies are more deadly than other types of allergies. The child will have to forgo the troublesome food entirely in most cases.
What To Do If Your Child Has A Food Allergy?
If you suspect your child has a food allergy, consult a doctor or an allergist. The doctor will be able to determine which food is causing the problem and will work with you to develop a treatment plan.
If you’ve determined that your child is allergic to something, the best way to avoid a reaction is to avoid the offending food and anything that may contain or have come into contact with them.
It can be problematic and distressing to have a child who has a food allergy. You’ll need to monitor their diet and be prepared in case of an emergency. The good news is that many children outgrow their food sensitivities as they grow older. In fact, the earlier a child’s initial reaction begins, the more probable the child will outgrow it.
For more updates on health and lifestyle in Pakistan, follow Pakistan Observer, a platform providing news updates around the globe.
