As if it isn’t difficult enough to feed children real, healthy, whole foods, you now need to be aware of potential food allergies when planning family meals, school lunches, or a party. Your kids already have a host of likes and dislikes that don’t coincide with each other, making meal plans a challenge.
They may also have sensitivities to foods such as dairy and eggs, which could lead to an upset stomach or diarrhea. But more serious than dislikes or sensitivities are food allergies, which trigger your child’s immune system inappropriately.
As with other allergies, a food allergy is caused by an overactive immune system that treats benign substances as pathogens. A mild food allergy may prompt symptoms such as hives. A severe food allergy could cause anaphylaxis — a potentially life-threatening condition that could shut down your child’s airway.
Food allergies have been on the rise around the world for decades, especially among children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 8% of children in the United States have a food allergy. About 2.4% have multiple food allergies, and 3% have had severe reactions.
Although reasons why allergies have increased are uncertain, theories include:
You want to keep your children safe, and so do we. That’s why expert allergist Catherine Fuller, MD, offers food allergy testing and treatment at our office in West Los Angeles, California.
What food allergies should you be aware of if you have young children? Following are five common ones.
Cow’s milk is used in most dairy products in the United States, including yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. If your child has a milk allergy, they might do better with goat’s milk or sheep’s milk.
Be careful of switching to plant-based milks. Many children also have allergies to tree nuts, including almonds and coconuts. Soy also can be allergic and should be avoided.
Even if you avoid serving eggs, they’re often included in other products, especially bakery items.
The protein gluten that gives wheat its chewy texture in breads and pastas can trigger an allergic reaction. You can find wheat in breads, pastas, cereals, and desserts. It’s often a hidden ingredient in sauces or prepared foods, too.
Both peanuts and soy are legumes that grow on the ground, although people often refer to peanuts as “nuts.” You can find soy in many health products as well as prepared sauces, such as soy sauce.
Peanuts are often processed with the same equipment that’s used to process tree nuts, which can lead to cross-contamination. Some children are so allergic to peanuts that even inhaling the dust associated with whole peanuts can trigger a response.
Tree nuts include almonds, hazelnuts, and coconuts. If your child is allergic to dairy, get them tested to determine if they have an allergy to tree nuts before using nut milk as an alternative.
Although most children outgrow most of their food allergies, if they’re allergic to fish or shellfish, they tend to maintain that allergy for life.
The most long-lived allergies are also the ones that tend to provoke the most severe reactions.
Most foods that provoke allergies can also provoke sensitivities. If your child is sensitive to a food, they may experience gastrointestinal distress but won’t have other symptoms. If it’s an allergy, it may cause:
Call 911 or head straight to the nearest emergency room if your child experiences severe symptoms.
Do you suspect your child has a food allergy or sensitivity? Or do food allergies run in your family and you want to learn how to prevent or identify them in your kids? For an allergy evaluation, contact Catherine Fuller, MD, today by calling, texting, or requesting an appointment online.
