A food allergy is when the immune system recognizes a food protein and starts to attack it. Food allergies may result in serious medical complications including anaphylaxis and very rarely, death. During the attack IgE antibodies to a particular food trigger histamine and other inflammatory chemicals to be released, causing an allergic reaction to said food. Around 8% of all children have at least one food allergy, commonly referred to as a pediatric food allergy.
A child can have an allergic reaction to a food as early as the first oral ingestion of that food. It is hypothesized that a baby can become sensitized or recognize the food through contact of the skin or possibly through breastmilk. IgE antibodies attack the food and release histamine and other allergic chemicals to cause allergic symptoms.
Food allergies in children are not all uncommon. About 32 million people have food allergies in the U.S. (4,5). Kids can exhibit early signs of a food allergy at any age, whether they are an infant, toddler, or teenager. About 26 million (10.8%) U.S. adults have food allergies (4).
About 5.6 million (7.6%) U.S. children have food allergies. (5) Food allergies have increased among U.S. children over the past 20 years, with the greatest increase in African-American children. (7ess) Familiarizing yourself with the early signs of food allergies is crucial in combatting symptoms, which can range from mild to severe. Children with food allergies are two to four times more likely to have asthma or other allergic diseases (8), making it especially important to monitor for potential pediatric food allergy symptoms.
Although there are a variety of food allergies, symptoms, and reactions, there are eight most common food allergies in children:
Allergic reactions can occur within minutes to several hours of eating a food. Pediatric food allergy symptoms are different in every patient but can include:
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can occur quickly and very rarely result in death. The primary treatment for anaphylaxis is the use of an epinephrine auto-injector as soon as possible and calling 911. Anaphylaxis usually starts within minutes of eating a food but may appear hours later in some cases. Up to 20% of patients experience a second wave of symptoms hours or days after their initial food allergy symptoms have gone away.
Before we discuss how to treat patients, first let’s review how we approach food allergy testing for kids. An important note about pediatric food allergy testing: it is relatively painless! Most patients report minor skin irritation. Rest assured, it will not be an elaborately painful process for your little ones.
When conducting food allergy testing for kids, we typically perform a
skin prick test. In some cases, blood tests are done to check for IgE antibodies to that food, which can help determine the severity or specific trigger for children’s food allergies.
Once we determine the specific trigger, as well as severity of symptoms, we are able to assess and create a customized approach to dealing with food allergies in kids. Several of our approaches to childhood food allergies include:
There is no, ‘one shoe fits all’ when it comes to food allergies in children. Milk, egg, wheat, and soy allergies are often outgrown by adulthood. On the other hand, there is a much smaller chance of outgrowing peanut, tree nut, fish, and shellfish allergies. (9)
Food allergies can be life-threatening and impair quality of life. Recognizing the early signs of food allergies and researching food allergy testing process for kids is critical in guaranteeing that your child is receiving the best-in-class care they can.
If you suspect your child might have a food allergy, book an appointment today and let our team help with your child’s treatment! You can text or call us at
515-410-9400. To visit the Iowa Allergy nearest you, please visit our
West Des Moines location or
Ankeny location page.
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