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FOOD ALLERGIES |
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Food allergy is a common problem that is noticed among the children. Food allergy is an immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly believes is harmful to the body. The immune system releases antibodies to protect the body. The chemicals released by the body trigger a cascade of allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system.
It has been observed by research that the children inherit allergies from their parents. If one parent is allergic the chance of a child having allergies is about 40 percent. If both parents are allergic, the chance increases to nearly 75 percent. In some cases, there is no evidence of a hereditary nature of the allergy.
Many times Food Allergy and Food Intolerance are used interchangeably. But there is a vast amount of significant difference between the two. Food intolerance does not include the immune system unlike the Food Allergy. Lactose intolerance is one example of food intolerance. A person with lactose intolerance lacks an enzyme that is needed to digest milk sugar. When the person eats milk products, symptoms such as gas, bloating, and abdominal pain may occur.
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COMMON FOODS THAT CAUSE ALLERGY:
- Milk and milk products
- Shell fish as well as fish
- Eggs
- Tree nuts and peanuts
- Soy
- Wheat
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Some people also develop allergy to certain fruits or vegetables and seeds. Most children with food allergies to milk, eggs, soy, and wheat tend to outgrow their allergy. However, allergy to peanuts, tree nuts, and fish do persist. Shellfish allergies often develop during later childhood or adulthood. Peanuts and tree nuts account for most of the severe cases of food allergy.
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SYMPTOMS OF FOOD ALLERGY:
Symptoms of food allergy differ from individual to individual. The common symptoms seen in the person with Food Allergy are:
- Skin rashes and eczema
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as: nausea, tingling sensation of the mouth, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and stomach pain, swelling near the mouth, swelling of the throat and vomiting.
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Nasal symptoms by themselves, such as congestion or a runny nose, are usually not caused by food allergies. Symptoms may be mild or very severe, depending on how much of the food the child has ingested and how allergic the child is to the food. A severe reaction can include anaphylaxis, with difficulty breathing, swelling in the mouth and throat, decreased blood pressure, shock and even death.
Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after the child has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.
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TREATMENT FOR FOOD ALLERGIES:
The only reliable treatment for food allergy is to avoid the problem food. A (state registered) dietician can help the parents identify and remove a problem food from the child’s diet and replace it with alternatives, to make sure that the essential nutrients are given adequately. The dietician would explain the parents what to look for on food labels.
Children with severe food allergies (those at risk of anaphylaxis) need to take precautions. Despite reading menus and ingredients lists carefully, the parents should take care while ordering the food. A tiny amount in a dish can still trigger a severe reaction.
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GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS:
If the parents have a doubt that their children are suffering from Food Allergy then the parents can :
- Make a note of the food items that the children eat.
- Note the symptoms displayed after eating a particular food.
- The parents should also note down the time gap for the symptoms to occur.
- Note the frequency of the symptoms.
- The material in which the food was stored and cooked.
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The parents should be vigilant enough to identify the Food Allergies and the same information should be passed on to the preschool in which the child is studying.
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Article Contributed By ZILS, H.O. |
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