Food allergies and your kids: Make careful choices

About 2.2 million school-aged children, and one in every 17 children younger than 3, have food allergies.

With a true food allergy, a child's immune system overreacts to an ordinarily harmless food. Once the immune system decides that a particular food is harmful, it creates specific antibodies to it. The next time the child eats that food, the immune system reacts to protect the body.

Food allergens, the parts of foods that cause allergic reactions, usually are proteins. Most of these allergens still can cause reactions even after they are cooked. Some allergens, generally those found in fruit and vegetables, cause allergic reactions only if eaten before they are cooked.

Six foods account for 90 percent of food allergies in children:

• Milk.
• Eggs.
• Peanuts.
• Wheat.
• Soy.
• Tree nuts.

Symptoms of allergic reactions

The most common allergic skin reaction to a food is hives. Asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing due to narrowed airways, also may be triggered by food allergies, especially in infants and children. Symptoms may appear within minutes or up to two hours after the child has eaten the food.

As they get older, some children may tolerate foods that previously caused allergic reactions. However, less than 25 percent of individuals with a peanut allergy will outgrow it.

Severe allergic reactions

In some cases, eating certain foods can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis are temporarily reversed by treatment with injectable epinephrine, antihistamines and other emergency measures. It is essential that anyone with symptoms of anaphylaxis immediately seek emergency treatment.

Be informed, check ingredients carefully

If your child has food allergies, teach him or her to check all food before eating it. To help avoid foods that may affect your child's allergies:

• Always read labels. Ingredients can change unexpectedly.
• Avoid eating a "hidden" food allergen. Always ask about ingredients when eating at restaurants or others' homes. Remember that taking the ingredient out of a dish that is about to served is not a solution. In addition, cross contamination may occur if the same utensil is used to prepare other foods. Food allergens also can be airborne, especially in steam.
• Tell your family and friends about your child's food allergies. Remind them that strict avoidance is key when managing food allergies, and even one little bite can hurt.
• If your child's food allergies are severe, be prepared for emergencies. Carry and know how to use injectable epinephrine and antihistamines to treat unexpected reactions.

Diagnosis

If you think your child may have food allergies, an allergist/immunologist is the best-qualified professional to diagnose and care for your child. These health care professionals are specially trained to manage and treat allergies.

As your child gets older, be sure to see your physician regularly to update medications and treatment plans.

Take the Children's Health Education Center's free online food allergy course.