Food allergies in children

Symptoms of a mild or moderate allergic reaction to food include a rash, swelling, tingling mouth, sore stomach, vomiting and diarrhoea. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to food – or anaphylaxis – include throat tightness, trouble breathing and fainting. See your doctor for a proper assessment of food allergies. Children must avoid food they’re allergic to. If they’re at risk of anaphylaxis, they might need to carry an adrenaline auto-injector.

About food allergies

If you have a food allergy, your immune system reacts to a particular food when the food enters your body. This food is called an allergen.

Your immune system reacts by releasing histamine and other substances into your body’s tissues. This leads to the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Even tiny amounts of the food you’re allergic to can cause an allergic reaction. Some reactions can happen immediately, and others can happen several hours later.

Allergic reactions are common. But most reactions aren’t severe and deaths are rare.

Immediate-onset food allergies: symptoms

The symptoms of immediate-onset food allergies usually appear within a few minutes. But sometimes symptoms can appear 1-2 hours after a child has eaten the food.

The symptoms of immediate-onset food allergies usually appear within a few minutes. But sometimes symptoms can appear 1-2 hours after a child has eaten the food.

Mild to moderate symptoms of immediate-onset food allergies include:

swollen lips, face or eyes

  • skin reactions like redness, hives or eczema
  • tingling or itchy mouth
  • vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhoea
  • nose congestion.

Severe allergic reaction:

A severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis, and it can also happen immediately. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

•breathing difficulties

•tongue swelling or throat tightness

•a wheeze or persistent cough

•difficulty talking or a hoarse voice

•persistent dizziness or fainting

•paleness and floppiness (in young children)

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction and needs urgent medical attention. If your child is having an anaphylactic reaction, first lay her flat or keep her sitting. Don’t let her stand or walk around. Next use an adrenaline auto-injector like EpiPen if one is available. Then call an ambulance .

The most common food allergies are:

  • cow’s milk
  • hen’s eggs
  • soybeans
  • peanuts
  • tree nuts like cashews, pistachios, walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts
  • sesame
  • wheat
  • fish
  • shellfish.

Diagnosing food allergies in children

Your doctor might refer you to an allergy or immunology specialist for further checks and tests.

Tests for immediate-onset allergies include the following:

  • Skin-prick test: your child’s skin is pricked with a special device that looks a bit like a toothpick and that contains a drop of a specific allergen. If a hive comes up where your child’s skin has been pricked, your child probably has an allergy.
  • Blood tests: the serum specific IgE antibody test uses your child’s blood to see whether he’s sensitive to specific allergens. If your child’s blood has a high amount of antibodies, he probably has an allergy. Your child might have this test if he can’t have skin-prick testing.
  • Oral food challenge: sometimes your child will be given the possible allergen in a safe, supervised setting. Medical and nursing staff will watch to see whether an allergic reaction happens. This test carries a risk of anaphylaxis so should be conducted only by medical specialists in a setting where anaphylaxis can be safely and quickly treated.

Managing food allergies in children

There’s no cure for food allergies yet, but many children grow out of them. You can also take some steps to make it easier for you and your child to live with food allergies.

Avoid the food

You can do two important things to help your child avoid the food:

  • Read all food labels. Be aware that some allergenic foods have different names .
  • Be careful when you eat out. Ask what ingredients each dish includes.

It’s best to avoid buffets and bain-maries (food warmers) because there’s a good chance that ingredients have been transferred from one dish to another.

Have an action plan

Know how to use an adrenaline auto-injector

If your child is at risk of anaphylaxis, he might be prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector like EpiPen®. These auto-injectors make it easy to self-inject adrenaline. Your doctor will teach you and your child (if old enough) how and when to use it.

It’s important that key people – like family, carers, babysitters and your child’s school – know how and when to use your child’s adrenaline auto-injector.

Consider a medical bracelet
Your child might wear a medical bracelet that lets people know she has an allergy.

How long do food allergies last?

Most children grow out of their food allergies by 5-10 years of age, especially children who are allergic to milk, egg, soybean or wheat.

Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish are more likely to be lifelong.

How to reduce your child’s risk of food allergies

Breastfeed

Breastmilk is best, so it’s recommended that you exclusively breastfeed your baby until he’s ready to start eating solid foods at around six months old. It’s best to keep breastfeeding until your baby is at least 12 months old.

Talk to a doctor or nurse about infant formula

 There’s no evidence that giving babies hydrolysed infant formula or partially hydrolysed infant formula (which is also called hypoallergenic formula) instead of standard cow’s milk formula prevents allergies.

Introduce allergenic solids from around six months of age

Introducing allergenic solid foods early can reduce the risk of your child developing a food allergy. All babies, including babies with a history of allergy in the family, should have solid foods that cause allergies from around six months of age.

These foods include well-cooked egg, peanut butter, wheat (from wheat-based breads, cereals and pasta) and cow’s milk products.