Food Allergies in Kids: What Precautions to take
The immune system is a network of proteins, organs, cells and chemicals that protect the body from disease causing microbes. These microbes can be bacteria, virus or fungi. If, in case, a person catches a disease, it is this immune system that helps them to recover fast. Therefore, immune system is the defense force of the body that protects it against various disease. In some cases, the immune system is on high alert and will defend the body against substances that are not typically dangerous to the body. Food allergy in children occurs when the antibodies in your child’s body react towards certain foods. This is not to be confused with food intolerances. Allergies are much more severe than food intolerances and a severe allergic reaction can be very fatal.
Food Allergies in Kids
The immune system is actually just trying to protect the body of your child. In case of children, you may see symptoms like hives, asthma, itching inside the mouth, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting etc. Children are way more sensitive than adults so even a small amount of allergen can cause a severe allergic reaction.
Most common food allergens are:
1. Milk
2. Eggs
3. Wheat
4. Soy
5. Peanuts
6. Fish
Diagnosis of Allergies
Sometimes, as the kids grow up, the allergies become less and less severe and may even stop but in other instances, the allergy may stay lifelong. Therefore, it is best to test the allergies so that you know what you should avoid exposing your child to. Your doctor would suggest the best type of test for your child. Some of the common tests for allergy are:
1. Skin prick test: In India, This is used for suspected aero-allergies. A small needle is used to prick the skin and affect it with a bit of suspected allergen and then wait for allergic reaction to show if any.
2. Oral test: In India, oral tests are used for suspected food allergies.
3. Blood test: A blood test can also be done to see which all substances are allergens for the body.
Precautions to Take
Currently there is no medicine to treat allergies in children. The best one can do is make sure that their child is not exposed to their allergen. This section of the article suggests some precautions you can take to make sure that your child is not exposed to their allergens.
1. Breastfeeding: In case you discover allergies in your infant, ask your doctor if you should avoid eating your infants allergens in case you are breastfeeding them.
2. Deficiencies: In case your child has severe allergy from a certain kind of food, you may have to give them vitamin and mineral supplements to make sure they get all their nutrients. You can easily buy vitamin supplements and other medical essentials from 3MEDS, the best online healthcare provider in Delhi.
3. Anti-allergens: In case your child has severe allergies, make sure they have doctor prescribed anti allergies with them at all times so as that it can be consumed in case of accidental exposure to the allergen. They can be easily bought from online chemist shops in Delhi.
4. In case you feel that the severity of your child’s allergic reaction is decreasing or has completely gone as they grow up, it is best to consult your doctor before letting them normally consume food that contains their allergens.
5. Try to make meals on your own so that you know all the ingredients that go into making the food. In this way you can make sure that there are no allergens in it and at the same time add ingredients that can replenish the vitamins and minerals that your child is missing out on due to allergy.
6. If your child is going to be eating in your absence, like in school or with friends, make sure that the adult in charge knows about your child’s allergies so that they can prepare something that your child can easily consume.
Conclusion
As mentioned, sometimes, the children “outgrow” their allergies but on the other hand, they may not. Therefore it is best to stay alert to what your kids are eating and how severe their allergic reactions are. In any case, taking every step to avoid allergens and keeping anti-allergic medicines or injection close by in case of accidental exposure is the best way to go about it.










