Child Food Allergies

A brief released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that food allergies among children increased approximately 50 percent between 1997 and 2011. Child food allergies are on the rise, yet there is still no known reason as to why.

The following are important facts about child food allergies that may provide some insight into this epidemic and what you can do about it.

Food Allergies Can Be Deadly

An allergic reaction to food can range from mild to severe and even fatal. Anaphylaxis is a potentially deadly allergic reaction that requires emergency medical care. Food allergies are the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside of a hospital setting.

Knowing the signs of an allergic reaction can help ensure that your child gets immediate care. The following are signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis:

Difficulty breathing or speaking
Chest tightness
Feeling of throat tightness or ‘lump in the throat’
Swollen face, lips, or tongue
Wheezing coughing
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Skin rash or hives
Feeling flushed
Vomiting
Loss of consciousness

The symptoms of anaphylaxis usually occur within minutes of being exposed to the allergen, but in some cases can occur more than 30 minutes. Symptoms may also recur a few hours after subsiding, so it’s important that the child be monitored for at least 4 hours after an anaphylactic reaction.

We often associate child food allergies with small children, but teenagers and young adults are known to have the highest risk of fatal food-induced anaphylaxis.

If your child or anyone else experiences any of the symptoms of anaphylaxis, administer a shot epinephrine (EpiPen, EpiPen Jr) and call 911.

Most Common Food Allergies

While one can be allergic to just about anything, there are eight foods make up 90 percent of all reactions. These include:

Milk
Eggs
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Wheat
Soy
Fish
Shellfish

Even a trace amount of an allergen can cause a reaction and a food doesn’t even need to be consumed to trigger a reaction; being near the food is all it takes in those with severe food allergies.

Is Your Child At Risk?

We may not yet know why child food allergies are on the rise, but we do know that there are certain factors that may increase a child’s risk of food allergies. These risk factors include:

Having a parent or close relative that suffers from any type of allergy or allergic disease, such as eczema, asthma, environmental allergies, or food allergies
Having a past food allergy, even one that the child has outgrown, increases the risk of developing a new food allergy or having it return
Having any other type of allergy, such as eczema or hay fever increases the risk of food allergies
Having asthma has been linked to a higher risk of allergies, including food allergies

Common Reactions to Child Food Allergies

Outside of the symptoms of anaphylaxis listed previously, you should also be aware of the most common allergic reactions in child food allergies that can help you and your doctor identify an allergy. The most common symptoms, according to a 2014 survey by Tummy Calm® and Mothering, include:

irritability and mood changes
eczema
hives
rash
upset stomach
swelling of the eyes, mouth, or face
vomiting
diarrhea

What You Can Do

If you suspect your child has a food allergy, take note of the foods and symptoms and speak to your child’s pediatrician. There is no one standard test for diagnosing food allergies, so your doctor will consider symptoms and your family history when trying to diagnose a food allergy.

You may be asked to keep a diary listing what your child eats, medications they take, and any symptoms they experience to help pinpoint a possible trigger. The doctor may also recommend an elimination diet where you remove suspect foods from your child’s diet for a week or two to see if symptoms improve. This can help narrow down the allergen.

Your doctor may refer your child to an allergist who can use blood and skin prick tests, along with other tests to diagnose a food allergy.

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