Food Allergies

Food allergies are a rather common occurrence these days, with two of the most common allergies being nuts and milk. Children who are known to be allergic to foods such as these are taught to question any food before eating it. Accidental ingestion cannot be helped, but the reactions can be serious, even life-threatening.

Cow's milk protein allergy is the most common food allergy in young children. The cause for the allergy is the body's reaction to the protein found in the cow's milk. The majority of children outgrow milk allergies by the time they are a few years old. The most common symptoms include eczema or skin rash, abdominal pain or cramps, vomiting or diarrhea, and in some cases, excessive crying. Less commonly, a reaction known as anaphylaxis occurs. This involves the swelling of the face, mouth, and tongue, leading to difficulty breathing. Untreated, this condition becomes fatal, so medical attention should be sought immediately.

It is important to find out early if your child has a cow's milk protein allergy, so that you can be sure that all milk and milk products are removed from your child's diet. If they are not, an anaphylactic reaction could occur.

Another food allergy, which is becoming more common, is the reaction to peanuts and tree-nuts (walnuts, pecans and almonds). Reactions include skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal symptoms. It is important to always have emergency medication on hand, especially since most times ingestion is accidental, an instance would be a craft project at school that uses peanut butter. Unfortunately, unlike some other common food allergies, nut allergies usually are not outgrown.