Food Allergies in Kids and Teens

Although you might think that there are least probabilities of food allergy to affect your kids and teens, then think twice. The National Center for Health Statistics ahs revealed that about 3 million kids and teens were diagnosed with a food or digestive allergy. There is endless number of ways in which food allergies can affect kids and children. However, every time your child does not eat a food do not think he is allergic to foods. He simply may not like it. It is hence necessary that you understand the difference between dislike for food and food allergy.

Food allergy is an immune reaction to a food that the body is allergic to. The immune system fights the foreign antigen and the body then releases histamines. These histamines are known to cause food allergy. When kids refuse to eat a particular food, he may or may not be allergic to the food. Food allergy can be judged by the symptoms. The body may start showing signs of allergy within a few minutes or a few hours after eating the food. You need to wait for sometime. The common symptoms of food allergy in kids and teens are:

Eczema, diarrhea, nausea, itching, wheezing and difficulty in breathing, abdominal pain, constipation, ear infections, hives, vomiting, colic, running nose, hives, swelling around mouth or throat, hay fever, nosebleeds, red or irritated eyes, etc. The symptoms of food allergies in kids and teens can vary in extent. It can be mild or severe. In either case, you need to check with a doctor immediately.

Food allergies in kids and teens can also be caused through mother's milk. So the mother should always check what she is eating, with the mindset that it will directly affect her child. A child can be allergic to any food. However, some of the common allergic foods include: cow milk, wheat, eggs specially egg whites, fish like salmon and tuna, shellfish like lobster, crab, shrimp, peanuts, soy, and tree-nuts like walnuts, cashew nuts.

If you find any of the symptoms of food allergy in your kid you must at once think of food allergy prevention. You should at once stop giving your children the foods he is allergic to. If you notice severe symptoms of food allergy in infants, the best way of prevention is to breastfeed and stop giving your baby instant formula and solid foods for the initial six months at the least. Also do not provide soy formulas and goat milk. Since you are breastfeeding, avoid eggs, milk, peanuts, fish, and tree nuts. Give him infant cereal like rice and oat cereals. After a couple of months, include wheat cereals followed by vegetables and non-citrus fruits.

If your baby is suffering from food allergies, you need to take adequate care. Breastfeeding is one of the best ways of preventing food allergies in babies. Consult a specialist and follow the preventive measures immediately. You may also notice food allergies to vanish after some years pass by. Till then, be cautious.