What To Do If Your Child Has A Food Allergy

Nobody likes battling with allergies. While these can be extremely irritating, allergy sufferers have it even worse if they are allergic to foods and food by products. It is especially hard for parents to know what types of food allergies their children have developed. Usually, by the time parents find out, their child has already experienced a bad reaction.

Both food allergies and food sensitivities originate in the immune system. The difference is that food allergies actually cause violent reactions, which can sometimes be life-threatening. This is because the immune system must attack the food as it enters into the body and bloodstream.

The immune system makes an antibody called IgE, which seeks out and bonds with the protein of the food that a person is allergic to. The build up of IgE proteins in the blood stream releases a stream of chemicals that can cause itching, swelling, vomiting, fever, difficulty breathing, and many other symptoms, and can eventually lead to the entire body shutting down.

Most food allergies appear before a child reaches the age of three. If, however, a child is never exposed to a certain food that they have an allergy to in the toddler years, they might show an allergic reaction later in life.

The most common food allergies come from products like milk, soy, eggs, wheat and nuts. These foods account for over ninety percent of allergies in children.

There is a considerable difference between having sensitivities to certain foods and being allergic to certain foods. Those who merely have sensitivities to certain foods will experience allergy-like reactions long after eating the food in question. Many times, there is a lapse of at least two hours before the reaction occurs.

Those suffering from a true food allergy experience the effects immediately. These troublesome reactions occur each and every time the food is consumed. There is a chance that some allergies will be outgrown if they are avoided early in life, but many children will remain allergic to the food in question for the rest of their lives.

If you suspect that your child may have a food allergy, it is essential to have them screened through the use of an allergy skin test. This will get rid of any doubts in your mind about whether or not there is an allergy present. Once diagnosed, inform all health providers, family, and friends about the situation, and teach your child to ask what is in the foods that they are offered. The best way to deal with allergies in children is to entirely avoid the foods that cause the reaction.

It's not possible, however, to protect your child from dangerous foods every minute of every day. Packaging and labeling of food has improved a lot in recent years, and packaged foods are usually clearly labeled with potentially allergic products. However, your child may not know how to read the labels, and may inadvertently get a hold of a snack that has traces of an allergen such as peanuts in it.

Since food allergy reactions can become life-threatening, make sure to always have an Epi-pen around. An Epi-pen can stave off dangerous reactions until professional help arrives. Once the Epi-pen is administered, call 911 to get your child proper medical attention.