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Ask the Expert
Paediatrician, Dr. Charlotte Massey, anwers your questions on allergies in babies and children.
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What is an allergy?
A food allergy happens when your baby’s immune system thinks that a protein in a food is harmful and tries to fight it by producing antibodies. This is different to a food intolerance which happens when a baby has difficulty digesting certain foods.
What are some of the most common allergies?
Food allergies are becoming increasingly common, occurring in up to 8% of children under the age of 3. A child can be allergic to almost anything, however, the commonest allergens in babies and young children are milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts (hazlenuts, walnuts, almonds), fish and shellfish.
I think my child has an allergy - what should I do?
If your child has an immediate reaction then book an appointment with your GP. Whilst waiting for an appointment it is best to exclude the food from your child’s diet, or from yours if you are breastfeeding.
If your child is having a delayed allergic reaction to a food, you will need to track the problem food down by elimating things one by one and keeping a food diary during this time. Potential culprits will need to be eliminated for 2 to 6 weeks and then reintroduced to see if the problem recurs. It is best to do this under the guidance of a doctor or a dietician in order to ensure that your child does not miss out on essential nutrients.
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms and signs of a food allergy can be either immediate or delayed.
Immediate signs and symptoms (also called IgE mediated) might include:
* Itching of the face, mouth or nose
* Redness of the face, hives or a red rash around your baby’s mouth, nose and eyes and which may spread over their body
* Swelling of your baby’s lips, face, tongue or around their eyes
* A runny or blocked nose, sneezing
* Itchy mouth or sore throat
* Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
* Abdominal pain
* Wheezing or cough
In very rare cases your child might have a more severe reaction with throat and tongue swelling, wheezing and difficulty in breathing and a drop in blood pressure. This is called anaphylaxis and requires urgent medical attention.
Delayed reactions (also called non-IgE mediated) are less common. They can be harder to identify but can include:
* Eczema
* Reflux
* Colic
* Diarrhoea
* Constipation
* Blood or mucous in your baby’s poo
* Redness around your baby’s bottom
* Poor growth
It is important to look out for these signs and symptoms, especially once you start weaning your baby. However, remember that each of these symptoms have many other causes as well and therefore food allergy is only one potential explanation.