Is Your Child Facing a Food Allergy?

from Shine Newsletter, Fall 2006

What You Need to Know to Put Your Mind at Ease 

While some kids simply don’t like milk, your son’s stomach twists and turns from the slightest hint of dairy products.  Thankfully, a food allergy doesn’t have to hinder your son’s childhood.

“Food allergies are very diverse, are fairly common among children, and can be challenging for parents,” says Kathy Spomer, RN, allergy nurse at The Children’s Hospital. “By understanding their children’s allergies, parents can learn to ward off allergic reactions.”

Catching the Culprit

Among the nearly 6 percent of children under age 3 who experience food allergies, most react to nuts, seafood, milk, eggs, soy and wheat. If your child is just beginning to eat solid foods, doctors recommend that you delay introducing the foods that commonly cause food allergies. Also discuss the family’s history of food allergies with your physician, as allergies are often inherited.

Particularly for peanut butter and other peanut and nut products, postpone introduction until age 2 — age 3 if the family has a history of nut allergies. Also delay giving cow’s milk until your child is at least 12 months old.

As you’re introducing new foods to your child, do so one at a time. This way, if allergic symptoms develop, you can better pinpoint the cause. Symptoms typically appear anywhere from a few minutes to two hours after a child has eaten.  There are a number of symptoms that may indicate a food allergy. Some of the common ones are:

• Itching skin rash
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Swelling in the throat
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Difficulty breathing

Moving On

The stress of having a child with a food allergy can be difficult, but take heart. More than half of the children who are allergic to eggs, milk, soy and wheat overcome their allergies by age 3, and 25 percent outgrow an allergy to nuts and seafood by the same age.

In the meantime, keep a close eye on food labels and educate your child and anyone who takes care of him about his allergies. Also, keep alternate treats on hand for your child, and remind him that his allergy isn’t a punishment.

“Feeding a child with food allergies can be very demanding, and parents should be careful to avoid wearing their frustration on their sleeves,” says Spomer.   “I suggest entire families adapt their diets to be the same as the allergic child’s. Doing this helps prevent the allergic child from feeling like an outcast and will motivate you to find new and creative meal solutions for him or her.”

To find out if your child has a food allergy or to learn how to better adapt your family’s diet to fit the needs of a child with food allergies, call The Children’s Hospital Allergy and Immunology department at 720-777-1234. For recipes, resources and tips for understanding food allergies, visit www.foodallergy.org