Approximately 32 million people in the U.S. have food allergies. This includes 5.6 million children under the age of 18, or one in 13 children. While most children grow out of their allergies, certain foods such as peanuts, fish, tree nuts, and shellfish may result in lifelong allergies.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for food allergies, and they must be managed by avoiding the foods in question and learning to identify and treat the symptoms. The problem is that most parents are unaware that their child has a food allergy until they first eat the food and have a reaction. This is why parents need to be alert for any signs of a food allergy.
In this article, we will look at four of the common food allergies which may affect your child and the symptoms to look out for.
Cow’s Milk
An allergy to cow’s milk mostly affects babies and children under the age of three. It is one of the most common allergies in children, affecting 2% to 3% of babies and toddlers.
It is an immune reaction to the proteins found in cow’s milk and symptoms can include vomiting, hives, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea.
Diagnosis of an allergy to cow’s milk will mean all milk and milk products need to be avoided. This includes any food or drink that contains milk, milk powder, and dairy products such as cheese, butter, ice cream and yogurt.
Mothers that breastfeed may also have to eliminate cow’s milk and dairy products from their diets.
Eggs
Eggs are the second most common allergy-causing food in children, with egg white allergies more likely than egg yolks. Treatment for this is an egg-free diet, although some people may be able to tolerate foods that contain cooked eggs such as cakes or biscuits.
An allergic reaction to eggs usually occurs within a few minutes or hours after eating eggs. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include stomach aches, skin rashes, hives, nasal congestion, vomiting, or in rare cases, anaphylaxis.
Nuts
A tree nut allergy is another common food allergy and includes nuts such as peanuts, macadamia nuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pistachios and almonds. This also includes food products made from tree nuts, such as oils and nut butters.
Tree nut allergies can range from mild to severe allergic reactions, with tree nut allergies causing around 50% of all anaphylactic deaths. Treatment will involve a total avoidance of all tree nuts and related products. This is why people with nut allergies are advised to always carry an epipen with them.
Symptoms can include skin rashes, congestion, digestive issues, wheezing and shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis.
Shellfish
A shellfish allergy is caused when the immune system attacks a protein called tropomyosin found in shellfish. Types of shellfish include prawns, lobster, shrimp, and scallops.
An allergic reaction will usually develop within minutes of eating shellfish and symptoms may include itching, skin rashes, hives, and swelling of the lips, tongue, face and throat. A mild reaction may be treated with antihistamines.
Now you know the four most common allergic foods you will know what signs to look out for when it comes to the nutritional needs of your children.