Food
Allergies and Children
By Cheryl Tallman and Joan
Ahlers
Nuts are common allergen among children and they can cause
one of the more severe, even life- threatening allergic reactions
known as anaphylaxis.
Only about 6 percent of all children have
clinically diagnosed food allergies. This number is rather
small, but food intolerance, which presents itself much like
a food allergy, adds to the public perception that this is
a major issue. While the medical difference is quite different,
the solution to a food allergy and intolerance is to remove
the culprit food from your diet.
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Food allergies
can be very dangerous, and early detection is critical to
managing them and the health of your child. Any family history
of food allergies should be discussed with your health care
provider prior to introducing solid foods to your baby. Food
allergies or food intolerances can occur even if there is
no previous family history of such. As you introduce your
child to new foods, you should introduce each new food one
at a time, and watch for any changes in your child’s
appearance or behavior. Some common symptoms of food allergies/intolerances
include:
Rashes
or eczema, especially on the face
Diaper Rash
Hives
Runny nose, watery eyes, or sneezing
Diarrhea, gas, or vomiting
Irritability
Temperament changes
Puffy eyes
Nasal congestion
One way
to prevent food allergies is not to introduce commonly-known
allergenic foods until later in your baby’s life, at
1, 2 or even 3 years old. This approach is referred to as
“delayed introduction.” The foods that children
react to are those foods they eat often. The most common food
allergens that cause problems in children are eggs, milk,
peanuts, soy and wheat. A more complete list includes:
Artificial
colors and preservatives
Berries
Chocolate
Citrus Fruits
Cow’s milk
Eggs
Fish and shellfish
Nuts
Peanuts
Soy
Tomatoes
Wheat
Yeast
Fortunately,
most allergic reactions in babies are temporary and the culprit
foods can usually be reintroduced when the child is older.
Food allergies can be very serious, so it is important to
follow the advice that is given to you by a healthcare professional.
Help for
the allergy sufferer: While there is no cure for food allergies,
eliminating foods from your diet is often easier said than
done. Reading ingredient labels of foods can be a daunting
and confusing task. Eight major foods - milk, eggs, fish,
shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans - account
for 90 percent of food allergies. If you or your child suffers
from one of these common food allergies, there is some good
news that makes reading ingredient labels easier. As of January
1, 2006, food manufacturers must include a listing of the
plain English name of these culprit foods just below the ingredient
listing. These new standards provide a definite improvement
for the food allergy sufferer.
About
the authors: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters,
the mothers of five children and founders of Fresh Baby, creators
of products such as homemade baby food kits, baby food cookbooks,
baby food and breast milk storage trays, breastfeeding reminders,
and child development diaries. Visit them online at www.FreshBaby.com
and subscribe to their Fresh Ideas newsletter to get monthly
ideas, tips and activities for developing your family's healthy
eating habits!
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