FOOD ALLERGY WITH OUR BABY
Food allergy is happen to the baby when the immune system responds to a food
by releasing antibodies, this could causing allergic symptoms such as a rash,
bloating, wheezing, runny nose and sometimes sudden and dramatic swelling of
parts of the body in contact with the food.
If your child suffers from food allergy, he's likely to show an obvious reaction
soon after eating the offending food. The only treatment for food allergy is
to avoid the particular food for life. Talk to your doctor if there is a history
of serious allergy in your family, especially to peanuts.
Food intolerance is when your child suffers from an on-going problem, for example
stomach ache, glue ear, diarrhoea or hyperactivity, which has been triggered
by certain foods. One of the main differences between intolerance and allergy
is that if the trigger food is avoided for a period of time, you may find your
child is then able to tolerate it in moderate amounts without any problems.
If you are concerned about the possibility of allergies you may like to think
about:
- Breastfeeding your baby for as long as possible as this seems to help protect
against some allergies
- Avoiding introducing solids until your baby is at least four months old
- Taking extra care to avoid common allergens in your baby’s diet
- Introducing foods one at a time, with several days between them, so you
can more easily identify the food that is causing a reaction
True food allergy is not common, but it does exist. You should get a proper
diagnosis if you suspect your child reacts to the same food each time. Your
health visitor will be able to advise you and your doctor can refer you to a
dietician. The most common foods to which people are allergic are:
- Wheat, rye, oats and barley
- Eggs
- Sesame seeds
- Nuts including peanuts
- Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit
- Cow’s milk and cow’s milk products
- Fish and shell fish
Serious reactions are thankfully very rare, but they do need emergency medical
treatment. So if there is a history of food allergy in your family, ask your
health visitor for advice on spotting potential reactions. (by babyworld.co.uk
- BABY.TopResource.NET Reference)
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