You asked

I’m worried about my child and food allergies. What should I know?

Food allergies, and any allergy for that matter, can strike any person at any age. It’s even possible to suddenly develop an allergy to a food you’ve eaten your whole life. However, babies and young children are more susceptible to both food allergies and food intolerances. That’s because their immune systems are undeveloped, and their low body weight means that any irritants in their food will have a high ratio in comparison to their bodies. Approximately eight percent of babies will have a food allergy, as opposed to one percent of adults, while up to 10 percent of the population (and a much higher number of babies) have at least one food intolerance.
 
The good news is that while it’s impossible to predict exactly what your child may be allergic to, there are a few foods that make up 90 percent of all food allergy cases. These are milk, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. Avoiding those common allergens is therefore the first step in preventing an allergic reaction in babies and young children.
 
However, your child doesn’t necessarily have to eat something to have a reaction. In very severe cases, children with peanut allergies, for instance, have had adverse reactions simply from sitting next to children who are eating peanut butter. Then there is always the chance that other foods, like cereals, chocolates, and other products will contain traces of allergens, so you will need to check food labels if your child is allergic.
 
The reaction will also vary, however, there are a few common symptoms of food allergy that you should look out for. These include:
 
Swelling and itching
 
Hives
 
Rash
 
Vomiting or diarrhoea
 
Anaphylaxis
 
Most of these symptoms can be fairly mild, however, if your child is severely allergic and suffers anaphylactic shock, he or she may collapse or even die. If your child is merely intolerant of a particular food, most of the symptoms will be the same as for allergy, but may also include:
 
Respiratory symptoms
 
Gastrointestinal symptoms
 
Headaches, depression, lethargy and other symptoms related to the central nervous system.
 
The best way to prevent your child from having an allergic reaction is to avoid feeding him or her known allergen containing foods early on, and to monitor any new foods added to his or her diet carefully. If you notice any adverse reaction, don’t feed your child that food again.
 
If you suspect your child may be allergic, your doctor can perform an allergy test that will confirm it. If your child has a severe reaction, cannot breathe or becomes unconscious, you should seek immediate emergency medical care. Anaphylactic shock can be dangerous or even fatal if left untreated.

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