Food Allergies In Children: What Causes And Prevents Them

By Priya Florence Shah

It’s estimated that over 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies. Most allergic reactions are mild, but around 30,000 visits to the emergency room are reported each year because of the reactions.

Most allergic symptoms are often only bothersome, but they can be life threatening. The most common symptoms are itching of the mouth, eyes and skin, hives, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, often but not always accompanied by stomach cramps and wheezing, shortness of breath or trouble swallowing.

The more severe symptoms can include swelling. The swelling tends to focus on the face area causing swelling of the eyelids, lips, ears and tongue. Mood swings and depression is another symptom.

The most severe symptoms can result in death. Around 200 deaths each year are reported from both the initial allergic reaction and secondary complications.

Does Food Make You Sick?

Do you often suffer from strange symptoms after eating certain types of foods? Do you get itchy, break out in hives, swell up or actually vomit? You could be suffering from a common food allergy.

Food allergies are the most common and prevalent type of allergy. Up to 12 million Americans suffer from some type of food allergy. The most common culprits are eggs, fish and shellfish, peanuts and other tree nuts.

Studies report up to 8 percent of children have an allergy to some type of food. The numbers are slightly smaller for adults, only around 4 percent. Many children will outgrow their food allergies. But some will carry these allergies into adulthood and suffer from them their entire lives.

Children are most commonly allergic to the same foods but with the addition to milk and other dairy products. Corn and corn products also commonly cause allergic reactions in children.

The 8 Most Common Food Allergies

• Milk

Being allergic to cow’s milk isn’t the same as being lactose intolerant.

• Eggs

You can be allergic to either the whites of the yolk. This type of food allergy is more prevalent in children, but does affect some adults.

• Peanut

Most people, adults and children with food allergies, are allergic to peanuts too.

Peanuts are one of the most common causes of food allergies

• Tree nut

More children have nut allergies than adults. The symptoms of nut and peanut allergies are the same, but being allergic to one doesn’t necessarily mean you’re allergic to the other.

• Seafood

This is more common in, but not limited, to children. The fish allergens can be passed through the air by people eating or cooking fish near you.

• Shellfish

Similar to seafood allergies. But having one doesn’t mean being allergic to the other.

• Soy

People allergic to soy need to be especially careful when eating Asian foods or using Asian sauces.

• Wheat

This is most commonly a food allergy, but can also be a respiratory contact allergy.

In the United States these are referred to as “the big eight”. Over 90% of U.S. food allergies consist of these foods. Allergens differ in other countries, but these 8 make the top 10 in many places through out the world.

Food allergies may be based on contact. In East Asia where rice makes up a large part of the diet, rice allergies are more common, as are celery allergies in Central Europe.

How To Prevent Food Allergies In Children

Eating prepackaged foods, out in restaurants or even friends homes can cause problems. It’s often hard to tell what’s added to the foods we eat. You hate to ask the cook “what’s in this?”, but sometimes you just have to – especially when asking can mean the difference between an enjoyable meal and a trip to the emergency room.

With the increased cases of peanut allergies, most packaged foods have started including on the label the use of peanut oils and even if the processing of nuts is handled in the same factory.

There is currently no cure for food allergies. Epinephrine can relieve the symptoms, and is often carried by people diagnosed with food allergies to be used in an emergency.

While allergy shots have been developed to help with many different types of allergies, none have been successfully made for food allergies. The only thing you can do is avoid the foods that cause the reactions you can’t deal with. Some scientists believe genetic engineering may create vaccines, but that’s still years away.

May be reproduced with a live link back to http://www.lovingyourchild.com

Nutrition Resources:

• The Easy Guide to Gluten and Dairy Intolerance – Is your child displaying food intolerance symptoms? Tummy ache, growth problems and waking up often during the night are three common symptoms of a dairy or gluten intolerance. Baking gluten free can be tricky so you’ll get a crash course in gluten and dairy free baking with 100 recipes!
• Free Report: The Seven Deadly Childhood Nutrition Myths – Protect your children from the 7 deadly nutrition myths that are robbing them of vibrant health. Do away with heartless corporate nutrition recommendations. Download this free report and learn the three questions you Must ask when grocery shopping for your children.
• The Organic Baby Bible (2010 Edition) – Are you harming your children without even knowing it? Written and created specifically to help parents make healthier and more educated decisions for their children. 107 PAGES of updated facts, studies and information with full color images for 2010!

Photo source michaelaw

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 SEO & More