A lot of children suffer from allergies; some minor and others severe. However, one allergy you should monitor closely is a food allergy.
Food allergies are commonly known to run in families. If a parent has an allergy, the child could inherit the same allergy.
The severity of a food allergy depends on the person’s immunological response. Some children may break out in hives while others may have a severe reaction, such as an anaphylactic shock when exposed to the offending agent.
Although food allergies can be dangerous, there are ways to prevent them from developing in children.
Here are ways to prevent food allergies in kids.
Types of Food Allergies
There are many types of food allergies a person can have. Due to the abundance of food allergies, they were separated into categories.
These categories include:
- Seafood allergies
- Milk allergies
- Peanut allergies
- Tree nut allergies
- Wheat allergies
- Soy allergies
- FPIES (food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome)
Source: ShutterstockFPIES can be considered to be its own specific allergy due to its rarity. It is a certain type of allergy that’s mostly found in infants. It specifically affects the gastrointestinal tract. Children with FPIES may experience profuse vomiting or diarrhea.
Now that you know what the food allergies are, it’s time to get into how you can prevent them.
During Pregnancy
You might be thinking that restricting a pregnant woman’s diet can prevent food allergies. However, this is not true, and in fact, doing so can cause more harm than good. Pregnant women need to consume more calories than women who are not pregnant or trying to conceive. Also, according to the AAAAI, there is no scientific evidence that shows food avoidance can eliminate food sensitivities or allergies.
Protecting Your Newborn
During infancy, the best way to provide your child with proper nutrition by breastfeeding. Breast milk is easily digestible and boosts a baby’s immune system in the process.
Once cleared by your pediatrician and your child is old enough, can you slowly integrate specific food into their diet. Note, if you or someone else in your family suffers from severe allergies, you may want to have allergy testing done as soon as it’s allowed.
Food allergies in children are something every parent needs to be aware of. When appropriate, enlist the help of your pediatrician or immunologist. They could help you discover potential food allergies in your child.
