The Basics Of Child Food Allergies

Child food allergies are the subject of some debate among medical professionals; the existence of child food allergies is not debatable, but the precise definition of child food allergies vs. food intolerance is.  In any case, child food allergies are a very real issue for many children, and the optimal well-being of affected children relies on identification of foods that are causing discomfort or hazard to children with food allergies.

Child Food Allergies—Allergy vs. Intolerance

True allergies are defined as a reaction of the immune system that results from a build-up of immunoglobulin, or IgE.  When reactions cannot be supported with increased blood levels of IgE, as is often the case with child food allergies, the child may be diagnosed with a food intolerance rather than a child food allergy.

Functionally, the semantics of allergy vs. intolerance have little impact, save for the fact that food intolerances are generally less life-threatening and less severe.  In the end, what parents of children and children with child food allergies want to know is what they can do to make their child, or themselves, feel better.

Common Child Food Allergy Triggers

Any food or food substance has the potential to become an allergy trigger in a child.  As child food allergies often (but certainly not always) develop following increased exposure to a food, the foods most commonly eaten are the foods that are seen in the majority of child food allergy cases.

The seven most common child food allergy triggers are:

• Milk—usually cow’s milk, but a child with a milk allergy may also be allergic to sheep or goat’s milk.  The actual allergen is a protein found in milk, whey or casein in most cases; lactose (a milk sugar) reaction is usually categorized as a child food intolerance.  All but 15% of milk allergies are outgrown by age five.
• Eggs—egg allergies account for the largest number of child food allergies; the allergy may be to either the white or the yolk (yellow) of the egg, or to both.  Like milk, egg allergies are usually outgrown by age five at a rate of 85%.
• Peanuts—peanut allergies have been getting a lot of attention because reactions can be very severe (life threatening) and it can be difficult to know what products may have trace amounts of peanuts in them.  In the vast majority of cases (80%), peanut allergies are not outgrown.
• Tree Nuts—tree nuts are different from peanuts, so a child with a peanut or tree nut allergy will not necessarily have a child food allergy to the other (in fact most do not); however, where peanuts and tree nuts have been used and produced, the other often has as well, so children with a tree nut or peanut allergy are often advised not to eat any nuts at all.
• Wheat—wheat allergy is a reaction to a wheat protein which can produce a variety of symptoms and reactions.  Most children outgrow wheat allergies, which is beneficial because wheat and wheat proteins exist in a very large percentage of common staple foods.
• Soy—soy allergies are usually of minimal danger and are outgrown early on in most cases.  Soy is a legume that is related to the peanut, but child food allergies to both peanuts and soy are very rare.
• Fish and Shellfish—although the two are physically different, fish and shellfish comprise the seventh child food allergy category, in most part because people often lump the two together and serve them together.  A child with a fish or shellfish allergy is not likely to outgrow the allergy and reactions are often severe.  Avoiding all types of fish or shellfish (respectively) is advised when an allergy exists due to a high risk of being allergic to another kind.

Symptoms Of Child Food Allergies

The symptoms of child food allergies are as varied as the causes.  Symptoms of child food allergies range from the well-known itchiness, hives, swelling, and skin rashes to facial swelling and extreme difficulty breathing.  Symptoms of child allergy may be immediate or delayed, and can also include stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation.

Reacting To Child Food Allergies

Reacting to a child food allergy is essentially no different than reacting to any other type of childhood allergy, except that child food allergies may be more avoidable once triggers are identified.  As with all allergic reactions, the biggest concern falls to the most severe, and the closest attention must be paid to the child’s ability to breathe and move air; whenever breathing is compromised as the result of a child food allergy, immediate medical attention is necessary.

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