Food Allergies Essay

Food allergies happen when our tolerant systems produce antibodies in reception to a protein in aliment that is normally considered harmless. Food allergies be more common in people who come from families with a history of allergies, such as asthma, hayfever, or eczema. If your child has a food allergic reaction, he will probably have an itchy or runny nose, a sore throat, itchy, watery eyes, rashes (hives) and swelling, which ordinarily come on fairly quickly after eating the food. Food allergies be common in young children. It is estimated that between six per cent and ogdoad per cent of children have a food allergy (Venter et al 2008). What is my child most likely to be allergic to?The most common food allergies in young children are to milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. * Milk Although this is not to be confused with milk intolerance. * Eggs About two per cent of children under three are allergic to eggs. * Nuts Just under two per cent of children are allergic to peanuts. Nut allergies in ordinary are on the increase (Hourihane et al 2007). What symptoms should I look out for?It should be quite easy for you to tell if your child has an allergy. The symptoms include * Hives (nettle rash) around your childs mouth, nose and eyes, which ass spread across his body. * Mild swelling of his lips, eyes and face.* A runny or blocked nose, sneezing, watery eyes. * An itchy mouth and irritated throat. * Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. more unholy reactions, involving wheezing, breathing difficulties or a drop in blood pressure may be life-threatening and are known as anaphylaxis. Fortunately, severe reactions are rare in young children. If you suspect a child is having a severe allergic reaction, call an ambulance immediately.When your child reacts quickly to an allergen, its normally easy to spot. However, delayed allergic reactions to foods are becoming more common. Your childs body will take longer to react, because different parts of his immune system a re affected. Symptoms to look out for include* reflux* colic * diarrhoea * constipation * eczema, which is common in young children with a milk allergy Remember that all these symptoms are common in early childhood and an allergy is only one possible explanation. How is a food allergy diagnosed?If you value your child is allergic to a food, see your GP and ask for a referral to an allergy clinic. There are about 90 NHS allergy clinics in the UK, somewhat of which specialise in childrens allergies (paediatric allergy), but you may not have one in your area. Your child may be seen by a general paediatrician, a dermatologist, or an adult allergy specialist instead.Your child will have a skin prick test as a low gear step, and these are very alleviateful, even for diagnosing allergies in small babies. Your bear on may also do blood tests. forever and a day get medical help if youre concerned. Dont be tempted to buy commercial testing kits, which are sold online, by mail order or i n health food shops.If your child is having a delayed allergic reaction to a food, the allergen is likely to be tracked down by a process of elimination. Your doctor will refer you to a dietician, who will work with you on a diet that cuts out various foods from your childs meals. The dietician will review your childs symptoms and slowly reintroduce the suspected allergen to his diet to see if the symptoms recur. Always talk to your doctor or a dietician before edged food groups out of your childs diet. Will my child grow out of his food allergy?It depends on what hes allergic to. Up to 90 per cent of children will develop cows milk and egg allergies, for example, whereas only about 10 per cent to 20 per cent outgrow nut allergies. Some children may go on to develop other allergy-related, or atopic, conditions, such as asthma or hayfever, later in life. carry our article on allergies for more information.If your child has a food allergy, its essential that he is checked often b y an allergy specialist, and that he is retested at intervals to see if he has outgrown his allergy. What are food intolerances?Young children jakes sometimes develop an intolerance to certain foods, which is different to an allergy, because it doesnt involve the immune system. The legal injury are often confused. Your child has an intolerance if he has difficulty digesting certain food. He might have the following symptoms* tummy pain* colic * bloating * wind * diarrhoea * vomiting The most common intolerance in babies is milk, or lactose intolerance. This usually occurs after a tummy upset and may decease a few weeks.If you suspect that your child has a food intolerance, see your GP. Never try to diagnose your child yourself, since there are other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as coeliac disease, a condition where the gut reacts to the gluten in grains (Bingley et al 2004).The food that troubles your child is identified in frequently the same way as an alle rgen that causes a delayed reaction. Your doctor will refer him to a dieticians, who will put him on an exclusion diet, where suspect foods are removed from his meals then slowly reintroduced. This helps to identify which foods are causing the problem. Living with a food allergyOnce your childs food allergy has been diagnosed, always follow your doctors or dieticians advice about avoiding trigger foods. Some children with mild allergies, for example to egg, might be able to tolerate the food in baked goods, whereas other children with severe allergies will have to avoid all traces of it.Holidays, birthday parties, eating out and days out will consider more planning than usual, but you will soon get used to providing the right food and drink for your child or advising others on how to do so.Always remember to take your childs medication with you on a trip out. This may be antihistamine medicine, or if your child is at risk of a severe reaction (anaphylaxis), he may also have an adre naline pen (Epipen or Anapen) as well. obtain for a special dietShopping for a special diet can be a challenge at first. But once you get to know all the products that are sufficient for your child, with help from your dietician or doctor, his diet will be varied, nutritious and tasty.There are now special free-from ranges in most supermarkets, and many stores translate lists of own-brand foods which are free from nuts, eggs and milk.