What is food allergy?
Food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to specific food or substance as harmful and causes symptoms of allergy. Food that causes adverse reaction is known as allergen.
What are the two categories of food allergies?
- Immunoglobulin mediated (IgE): Symptoms result from the immune system of the body generating antibodies called Immunoglobulin (IgE). These food allergies are most common in infants and children. These occur in response to egg, milk, peanuts, wheat and soy. The allergic reactions can involve skin, eyes, mouth, lungs, heart and brain. Some of the symptoms of this can include:
- Diarrhea
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Heartburn
- Stomach ache
- Swelling of lips and mouth
Sometimes the symptoms of allergic reaction are mild, but they can often be severe as well. If treatment is not initiated at an early stage, it can lead to serious allergy reaction termed as anaphylaxis. This reaction often indulges with more than 1 part of the body and if not diagnosed properly, it can take one towards serious life-threatening complications. The symptoms of anaphylaxis occur immediately after contact with allergen. In some people, it may be triggered after 2 to 3 hours of consuming allergen.
Having and IgE mediated allergy to one food means that you are at risk to similar other foods as well. For instance, if your baby is allergic with cow’s milk, he could also be allergic to goat and sheep milk. The reaction among different foods is termed as cross-reactivity. This happens when ingredients in one food are present in another food as well and one can get a good idea by reading new food allergy prevention guidelines.
- Non IgE mediated food allergy: Majority of the symptoms of non IgE food allergy involves the digestive part of the body. Symptoms may include vomiting and diarrhea. As compared to IgE mediated food allergy, the symptoms of non-IgE mediated food allergy takes longer to develop. Sometimes, it can take up to 3 days of acquiring allergy after consuming harmful food. The best way to treat these allergies is to stay away from the food that is causing the reaction. For this, you must be aware of the food that you are getting allergic to. Not all children who react to specific food have allergy, but they may have food intolerance. If you found out that this particular food is causing allergy in your child, you must refrain from that food.
What are 5 tips to introduce allergens
Introducing allergens early and often can help prevent up to 80% of food allergies.
Here are some tips for early allergen introduction:
- You should start early: Studies recommend that you should start as early as 4 to 6 months to align with an infant immune system. This gives the best opportunity to develop a positive response to your kids.
- One food at a time: As per suggestions from pediatricians, just one allergen food should be given at one time in 3 to 4 days. It is to better determine how the baby is reacting to that allergen.
- Low Dose: Initially, low dose must be given which after checking the results can gradually be increased.
- Starting Early and Sustaining Exposure: Majority of the families struggle with early and sustained exposure. Studies reflect that many 4 to 6 months old babies are not ready for solid food or are picky eaters, and feeding them continuously cannot be possible.
- Mix a small amount of allergen with your baby’s usual food: You should mix a small proportion of allergen with your baby’s regular food. For instance, a teaspoon of cooked egg in some vegetable puree.