Food allergies in children are very common, so parents have a lot of questions about it. It is a reaction of immunity to any product. This is a consequence of food intolerance, in which the immune system produces special antibodies to the protein, which is part of the product that serves as an allergen.
Every time a child eats food containing allergens, immunity is included in the fight. A similar reaction has various manifestations, ranging from digestive upset, ending with anaphylactic shock. About the causes and symptoms of food allergies, and in addition, about the methods of treatment, we will tell in our article.
Food allergy
Theoretically, allergies in children can be caused by any product. But often its cause is eight products. We are talking about cow's milk, eggs, wheat, nuts, peanuts, soy, fish and crustaceans.
As they grow into certain foods, such as milk, eggs, wheat, and soy, the child’s body develops tolerance. In this case, it is generally accepted that children outgrow allergies. In this regard, the listed products rarely act as allergens for adults.
Often the causes of food allergies in children and adults are nuts along with peanuts, fish and crustaceans. Regardless of the time when the allergic reaction to these products first appeared, in childhood or in adulthood, it can remain for life.
As for food additives, for example, flavors, colorants and preservatives, they rarely cause an allergic reaction. As practice shows, this happens in only 0.22% of cases.
How allergies manifest in children should be known to all parents.
Product Allergy Frequency
The real allergic reaction of the body to food is extremely rare - only three percent of people. But a larger number suspects the presence of such a pathology - thirteen percent of people.
Causes of food allergies in children
Currently, the mechanisms of incorrect responses of the immune system along with factors provoking a similar reaction continue to be investigated. It is known that the formation of an allergy in an infant begins, as a rule, immediately after birth. The causes of unhealthy conditions are due to the following factors:
- Improper nutrition of a woman carrying a fetus.
- Features of intrauterine development of the baby.
- Antibody transmission through milk as part of an inappropriate maternal diet.
Breastfeeding supplement
Causing allergies in children can be short-term breastfeeding, against the background of which an artificial mixture based on cow's milk was introduced into the lure. The protein of this product is often capable of eliciting an immune response. Based on this, in the case when the nursing mother does not have breast milk, its substitute is required to be selected only with the doctor.
Another risk factor is the large amount of food in the first feeding. It is required to introduce products in one form, starting with the minimum dosage. It is important to monitor the reaction of the child's body. In this case, you should pay attention to the condition of the skin, stool, the presence of discharge from the nose and the development of cough.
How is allergy in children?
Symptoms
An allergic reaction of the body to products can have the following manifestations:
- From the skin, redness, itching, rash, or swelling may occur. Such symptoms occur in ninety percent of cases.
- The respiratory system can respond by sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose. A similar reaction occurs in 70% of cases. What other allergy symptoms do children have?
- The digestive system reacts with the appearance of swelling of the lips or tongue. At the same time, a person's condition can be complicated by nausea, vomiting, intestinal colic, diarrhea, the appearance of blood in the stool, irritability and refusal to eat. In babies, a decrease in body weight may be observed.
- From the side of the heart and blood vessels, as a rule, a decrease in blood pressure, the appearance of dizziness and fainting is observed.
Symptoms of allergies in children should be determined on time, and the patient needs immediate assistance.
Diagnostics
To diagnose food allergies in children, the following studies are carried out:
- Determination of the level of general and specific immunoglobulin E.
- Performing skin tests. As part of this study, pri-tests are performed to diagnose immediate reactions. Patch tests aimed at diagnosing delayed reactions are also performed.
- Conducting endoscopic studies revealing changes in the mucosa of the digestive system.
- Conducting provocative tests. In the framework of such studies, the suspected product is canceled for several weeks, after which it is again allowed to eat, observing the reaction of the body.
Now consider how to treat.
Allergy treatment in children
Comprehensive therapy begins with limiting the use of a list of undesirable products. At the same time, patients are not allowed to starve, especially without medical supervision at home. In the event that the disease is aggravated by bronchospasm, then the following measures should be taken:
- Call an ambulance.
- Give the child an antihistamine according to the instructions.
- Ensure adequate intake of fresh air.
A similar principle of first aid should be observed with Quincke's edema, and in addition, with anaphylactic shock. In all these situations, emergency intervention by specialists is required. The medicine for allergies for children is chosen by the attending physicians. After this, it is extremely important to observe the prescribed dosage and frequency of administration. In addition to taking antihistamines, you may also need funds in the form of decongestants, leukotriene inhibitors, sorbents and steroid sprays.
One of the ways to treat allergies in children, which is used in combination with medications, is the hyposensitization process. Immunotherapy involves the sequential and prolonged administration of a certain amount of allergen into the body. Over time, the volume of the substance increases. Against the background of this approach, sensitivity to the provoking component may decrease. An allergen is injected.
Hyposensitization
Hypersensitivity in case of allergies in a child is prescribed if the medications did not have the desired effect. Regular use of sprays and tablets for six months or longer can cause a deterioration in the patient's condition, so it is often necessary to resort to immunotherapy. Given that the method is associated with some risk of a significant allergic reaction, injections are done in a medical facility.
A diet with food allergies in combination with targeted treatment, as a rule, gives excellent results. It is important at the same time to strictly comply with all the recommendations of the doctor and not engage in self-administration of drugs. With the use of folk remedies against the background of the body's predisposition, one should also be careful. Any manipulations should always be discussed with the doctor in order to avoid an even greater increase in symptoms.
Treatment of food allergies in infants
In the event that the baby is allergic, feeding should be avoided until the age of six months. Add products is required in minimum doses and one by one. Only after two years of age can cow milk be introduced along with chicken eggs, nuts and wheat.
In the treatment of milk allergies in a child, the state of the digestive system plays an important role. The development of dysbiosis even at its early stage can lead to an increase in the immune response. It is necessary to prescribe enterosorbents along with probiotics and other drugs in the following cases:
- with irregular bowel movements;
- the occurrence of constipation;
- the presence of undigested particles in the feces;
- intense colic.
In the event that there is an alternative, it would be better not to take medicines in the form of syrups, as they may contain various dyes or flavors.
Selection of mixtures
Treatment of allergies in an infant provides for a selection of special mixtures if the newborn baby is breast-fed. Hypoallergenic drugs are of two types: based on soy protein or hydrolyzed. The latter type includes a protein that breaks down into individual amino acids.
From six months, you can gradually switch to hypoallergenic multicomponent puree. Such dishes are vegetable, and in addition, berry or fruit. From ten months it is allowed to diversify the diet by adding mashed meat. It is recommended to clarify any stages of feeding with your doctor.
For allergies in a child (a photo of the symptoms of the disease you can see in the article), while breastfeeding, the mother needs to carefully monitor her diet. She should completely exclude refined products from her diet, she should also not smoke in any case, she must refuse drinks that contain alcohol or dyes.
It is recommended to take foods in portions, adhering to a certain schedule. All products must be natural and fresh.
And how does an allergy to milk develop in a child?
Cow's milk protein response
The most common cause of allergies in children in the first 3 years of life is a reaction to cow's milk protein. For this reason, whole cow's milk is undesirable to enter in the diet of children under the age of one year.
Those babies who are on artificial feeding and are allergic to cow's milk are prescribed a mixture with a split protein. After the allergic reaction has passed, such children are recommended to adhere to preventive hypoallergenic mixtures, avoiding foods containing whole protein of cow's milk for up to three years.
In 95% of cases, the child has an allergy (her symptoms are clearly visible in the photo) for cow's milk protein by the age of three. Children who still have intolerance to dairy products are recommended to take calcium supplements in addition to make up for the deficiency of this element.
Allergy to fish and seafood
Food allergies in children caused by fish and seafood can last a lifetime. The development of tolerance to this type of product usually does not occur. In the presence of such a pathology, any fish dishes can cause a negative reaction, regardless of the type of their preparation. The reaction may even occur due to the smell of boiled or stewed fish. Therefore, along with crustaceans - shrimps or mussels - it is important to completely exclude fish from the child’s diet. The same applies to adults.
Omega 3
What to do with this type of allergy in a child? It must be borne in mind that fish acts as a source of protein, and in addition, the essential fatty amino acids omega-3. As a source of protein, fish can easily be replaced with meat, poultry, or even dairy products, which are actually the main sources of this element for children and adults.
Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely important for the development of the brain, and in addition, the vision of the child. During pregnancy, these beneficial elements pass through the placenta from mother to fetus, in addition, they are present in breast milk. Omega-3 acids are very important for the development of the nervous system and intelligence in a child.
Thus, omega-3s are considered indispensable, since they are not formed in the human body, but must be supplied to it through food. Unfortunately, they are found in only a few products, namely fish and some vegetable oils, for example, flaxseed, hemp and mustard.
Some manufacturers are adding omega-3s to infant formula, dairy products. Thanks to this, if the child does not like or cannot eat fish, he will receive omega-3s in his favorite yoghurts, cottage cheese and desserts. Parents should look for just such products so that fish intolerance does not affect the baby’s health.
We found out whether there can be an allergy in a child, and how to deal with it. We hope you find this information useful.