How to spot a food allergy
Here are some tips for spotting food allergies in your child.
What is an allergy?
An allergy is the body’s reaction to a particular food component which triggers an over-reaction by our immune system.
What foods cause allergic reactions?
Different people can have unexpected reactions to all kinds of different foods – check out the Five most common allergies. A person may develop a reaction or sensitivity later for a food they previously enjoyed, and many childhood allergies are grown out of.
What are the symptoms to look for?
Unexpectedly serious reactions to food might include instant coughing and choking, swelling of the hands or face and a spread of redness across the skin. These kinds of symptoms require immediate emergency help. In less serious but still unpleasant cases, reactions might include sneezing, coughing, itchiness to various parts such as nose, face, ears, eyes or throat, shortness of breath or wheezing, and sinus problems.
Who is most likely to have an allergy?
If anyone in your immediate family has a history of asthma, eczema, suffers badly from hayfever, or has an existing known allergy, this may increase the chances of an inherited predisposition. It is not guaranteed this predisposition will have been inherited but caution with common allergens may be advised.
What can you do about a suspected allergy?
A person who is found to have a serious allergic reaction to a food will be issued with an emergency treatment they can carry with them. For an example, an ‘Epi-Pen’ is a small injection that can be carried and self-administered as soon as serious symptoms appear, this enables the sufferer to alleviate the worst symptoms and gives him or her time to seek emergency medical help. If your child suffers less serious symptoms, speak to your GP about possible referral to a specialist. In either case, complete avoidance of a particular food is essential.
Savvy tip
Allergy and intolerance are very different things. Find out more at Food allergy and intolerance.
Pass it on – support and advice
For more information, go to http://www.allergyuk.org/