Food allergies: Negative food reactions

Around one in 20 children have a food allergy of some kind and this number is on the increase.

Basically, food allergies occur when the body mistakenly identifies a component (usually a protein) in a certain food as harmful. The immune system, thinking it’s under attack, triggers an allergic reaction, which can involve symptoms from mild itching and hives to severe, life-threatening swelling and breathing difficulties. Thankfully, in most children allergies are mild and some are even grown out of in time.

Let’s take a closer look…

Food allergy or food intolerance?

Food allergies are often confused with the more common reaction of food intolerance. The two can share similar symptoms, such as vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, however the key difference is that allergies involve an immune reaction and the release of the chemical histamine, which causes various forms of swelling around the body. Food intolerances generally don’t involve the immune system and are less severe. Lactose intolerance, for example, is due to the body’s inability to break down lactose, the sugar found in milk, causing bloating, cramps and loose bowel motions.

Risky business

Just because Mum or Dad has a food allergy doesn’t automatically mean their child will, too. Most of the time children with food allergies have parents who are allergy-free, however siblings of a child with an allergy are at a slightly higher risk of developing one themselves.

There is also no proven link between a mother’s diet and her child’s risk of allergy. However, evidence to date shows that it may be possible to minimise the risk of allergies in your little one by...
❋ Breastfeeding him for at least four to six months, if possible
❋ Avoiding introducing solid foods (anything other than breastmilk or formula) before he is four months of age
❋ Not smoking during your pregnancy and avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke from others, too.

Reaction factors

Symptoms of allergies can vary from child to child, depending on the severity of their allergy. A response can appear in as little as a few minutes or may take up to an hour to emerge. Reactions may be mild to severe depending on a number of factors, including:
❋ The amount of the food eaten
❋ The form of the food (liquids can be absorbed faster)
❋ Whether the food was eaten alone or mixed with others
❋ Whether the food was cooked or uncooked
❋ The child’s activity (running around or other exercise can increase the severity of a reaction).

What signs to look for

Underneath the lining of the skin, lungs, nose and eyes are cells filled with chemicals, including histamine, which are released when the tissue is irritated. A severe reaction will affect swallowing and breathing whereas a mild reaction may present as a skin reaction or symptoms similar to that of hay fever.

❋ A mild reaction may cause hives (small red welts) or wheels (red rings) on the skin which can be warm and itchy, and the skin may also swell around the mouth.
❋ A moderate reaction may include the same hives and welts seen in a mild food allergy, however there may be vomiting and other symptoms can include tummy pains, diarrhoea or a blocked or runny nose.
❋ A severe reaction, called anaphylaxis, can involve severe swelling and breathing difficulties. Though deaths from food allergy are rare, anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention. Treatment involves using adrenaline, usually in the form of an ‘Epipen’ injection, to reduce the reaction.

WHAT TO DO...

If your child is having a reaction, try to keep him calm. Use a damp cloth to cool him down, offer sips of cool water and give plenty of reassuring cuddles. If he complains that it’s hard to breathe, his voice becomes hoarse, he becomes dizzy or he is limp and floppy, take him straight to hospital.

Common food allergy culprits

Although sensitivity levels vary, the most common food allergies involve:
❋ Cows’ milk
❋ Eggs
❋ Peanuts
❋ Tree nuts
❋ Seafood
❋ Shellfish
❋ Soy
❋ Wheat
These are commonly known as ‘the big eight’. Of these, sensitivity to peanuts is the most common and often the most severe. Tree nuts, including cashews, pecans, pistachios and pine nuts are also common allergens. Children sensitive to these nuts may also react to seeds including sesame and poppy seeds. While most kids allergic to cows’ milk, soy and wheat will be able to tolerate varying amounts by the time they go to school, allergic reactions to tree nuts, peanuts, seeds and seafood can be lifelong in around 75 per cent of cases.

Other common allergy-causing foods include...

❋ Eggs
Around one in 50 children have an egg allergy, but most will have outgrown it by the time they’re five.
❋ Other milks
While cows’ milk is one of the big eight, goats’ and sheep milk are also associated with allergy. Children sensitive to milks are also unable to tolerate related products, such as cheese. Around 10 per cent of kids with a milk allergy, will also have a reaction to soy milk.
❋ Fish, fruits, vegetables, spices, chemical additives and synthetic and natural colours also all contain allergy-causing proteins.

When it comes to food intolerance...

The culprits are mainly sugars, such as lactose (in milk) and fructose (in fruit). Intolerances can also be due to the amount of food eaten. For example, your child may react after having lots of fruit juice, but may be able to tolerate a single piece of fruit.

Talk to the experts

If you suspect your child has a food allergy or intolerance, seek a professional diagnosis from your GP or allergist. Once a diagnosis has been made, it’s important to eliminate all traces of the allergy-causing food from your little one’s diet. Sometimes products contain only small traces of the culprit or may list it under another name – for example, milk may be listed as ‘caseinates’ in muesli bars or cakes. An accredited practicing dietitian can help you identify these hidden dangers, provide you with alternatives to the food in question and guide you in providing a balanced diet for your child.