Food allergies in children can be dangerous and can cause serious consequences if not managed and treated properly.
About 5% of children have food allergies
Food allergy is the body's reaction to certain substances in food, these substances are called allergens.
According to research, about 5% of children have food allergies and the rate of allergies is increasing around the world, especially in young children. Based on the parents' history of allergies, we can determine the child's risk of allergies right from when the child is still in the mother's womb. For example, if both parents have allergies, 50 - 80% of children will be at risk; If one parent has allergies, about 20 - 40% of children are at risk. Even if both parents are not allergic, 5 - 15% of children are still at risk.
According to recent studies, up to 40% of young children are at risk of food allergies. This rate gradually decreases with age, depending on environmental changes, eating habits and lifestyle of each community and individual.
The main ingredients that cause food allergies in children are proteins in food. The reason is that the child's immune system and intestines are still weak, the permeability of the digestive tract mucosa is high, if exposed to foods with high allergenicity, it is easy to develop allergies.
Erythema, dermatitis, urticaria, eczema, abdominal pain and digestive disorders... are symptoms that often appear in food allergic reactions. In some severe cases, food allergies can cause bronchial asthma exacerbations or anaphylactic shock, with a very high risk of death.
Symptoms of food allergies in children
Your child may have a food allergy if he or she has allergy symptoms that appear within 2 hours of eating:
- Swelling of lips, tongue, mouth.
- Diarrhea or vomiting.
- Rash.
- Red skin with itching (especially when the child has eczema).
Less common symptoms of food allergies in children:
- Sore throat.
- Stuffy nose, runny nose or sneezing.
More rarely, food allergies in children can have severe, life-threatening symptoms with sudden onset (called anaphylactic reactions):
- Shortness of breath.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Cardiovascular collapse.
- Changes in perception (irritability, confusion or stupor).
Children who have had eczema or asthma in the past are more likely to have food allergies than children who do not have these conditions. Food allergies can cause asthma attacks, migraines, stomachaches... in children with a history of asthma. These children will also have allergic symptoms as listed above.
Food allergies are hereditary. If parents or siblings in the family have food allergies, the child may also have food allergies.
What are the most common food allergies?
The question that many parents worry about is which foods easily cause children to be allergic? Depending on each child, they may be allergic to different foods. Reality shows: Peanuts, eggs, cow's milk, soy milk, wheat... are the foods most likely to cause allergies. About 80% of the causes of food allergies are caused by these foods. In addition, fish, shrimp, crab, oysters... also account for over 95% of the causes of allergies.
However, parents should not worry too much, because the older the child gets, the more the food allergy problem gradually decreases and disappears. According to research, more than half of children with food allergies in their first year will outgrow their allergies by the time they are 2-3 years old. Some food allergies like milk will go away faster. About 3 - 4% of children are allergic to cow's milk, allergic to beans, fish, shellfish, shellfish... which usually lasts a long time.
What should parents do when their child has food allergies?
When children have allergies, parents need to eliminate the cause of the allergy and avoid exposing the child to those things. Many times it is necessary to change eating habits and be more careful in using food for children.
When children are weaning, parents need to feed little by little, each type of food to adapt and to easily detect allergies in children. When children start weaning, they should start with foods that are less likely to cause allergies such as rice and tubers.
For children with hives and acute laryngitis after eating shrimp and other foods such as eggs, fish, beans, etc., they should absolutely avoid eating shrimp or products containing shrimp, because the symptoms of laryngitis are caused by an allergy to shrimp. can be dangerous to the child's life.
It is best for parents to consult an allergist when they suspect their child is allergic to a certain food. Doctors will examine, ask questions about the child's health and may perform some specialized tests, then will give more specific advice and instructions.
We should not wait until our children show allergy symptoms before taking precautions. Children who have food allergies at an early age will have a high risk of developing other allergic diseases throughout their lives such as allergic rhinitis, eczema or bronchial asthma... Therefore, based on family history to determine. Determining the risk of allergies for children right from pregnancy is necessary. If it is determined that a child is at high risk, early allergy prevention methods should be used through diet such as: Breastfeeding the child exclusively for at least 6 months, eliminating food allergens in the mother's diet. .
If breast milk is not available, use hypoallergenic formulas with partially hydrolyzed protein and avoid using cow's milk. Do not feed your baby solid foods before 6 months of age. When children start weaning, they should get familiar with different foods.
Slowly, eat a new food every week to monitor and avoid foods that easily cause allergies such as egg whites, peanuts, seafood (shrimp, crab, dried and fresh scallops). These foods should be introduced to children after 12 months of age.
Conclusion
Food allergies in children can be dangerous and affect many aspects of their lives. Proper management and treatment are important to ensure safety and a better quality of life for children. Working with medical professionals and following food allergy guidelines is important to minimize the risk and consequences of food allergies.
You can refer to Vitacare USA's natural and safe supplements to provide the necessary nutrition for your child.
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