Food Allergies
There are probably more myths surrounding food allergies than any other types of allergic reaction. Food is essential for survival, and for a sufferer of food allergy, every meal may represent a trip to the emergency room or an embarrassing way to end a first date.
But food allergies are no laughing matter. A reaction could range from a minor rash to a full-blown anaphylactic reaction, where the entire body swells up. Allergy has the potential to be a silent and quick killer.
The Notorious Gang of Eight
To some degree, it has become almost “cool” to have a food allergy. While food allergy can be a serious medical condition, being allergic to food has infiltrated the pop culture. Sometimes it seems that everyone has a trendy food allergy.
Food allergy actually isn't as common as you may think. A national survey indicates that close to 30 percent of Americans believe that they have an allergy to food. However, most medical studies estimate that no more than 5 percent of the general population has an actual food allergy. This falsely elevated reporting results from the confusion of many nonallergic reactions with true food allergies.
It is quite surprising that a small number of food items cause the majority of food allergies. The most common culprits are these:
Peanuts
Tree nuts (walnuts, pecans)
Eggs
Milk
Soy
Wheat
Fish
Shellfish
While virtually any food can trigger allergy, these eight are responsible for most of the reactions.
Simply having a bad reaction to something she ate doesn't necessarily mean that your child has an allergy to some kind of food. It could be a case of food poisoning, where the actual food item is not to blame. The actual culprit for the allergic reaction could be difficult to tease out, since children rarely ingest a single food item at a time. If you suspect an allergic reaction, talk to your child's pediatrician to confirm or refute the suspicion. Additional blood tests may be necessary to medically diagnose a food allergy.
Essential
A common myth regarding food allergy involves the notorious monosodium glutamate (MSG). This is a common additive to foods served in many Chinese restaurants. Its purpose is to enhance the flavor of the food. Even though there are numerous anecdotal reports of bad reactions to this compound, scientific studies have discredited the existence of a true allergic reaction to MSG.
Some individuals are extremely sensitive to food allergens. Even a trace amount of the food can trigger a life-threatening reaction. Occasional case reports have revealed that even cookware used to prepare peanut products can cross-contaminate another dish, even though the dish does not contain any peanut. Steam from shellfish inhaled by susceptible individuals has triggered anaphylactic reaction. If your child has severe reactions to food, you must be constantly vigilant to avoid exposure to the allergen.
It is possible for children to outgrow their food allergies, but this is mostly true for only egg and milk allergy. Most children with peanut allergy are going to be allergic to it for the rest of their lives. Since reaction to peanuts tends to be severe, it is wise to stay away from peanuts forever once a serious reaction occurs.
The best way to avoid developing food allergy is by postponing the introduction of solid foods to your baby until after six months of age. Numerous studies have proven the link between early introduction of solid foods and the development of food allergies later in life. Beside this additional risk, most babies younger than four months cannot hold their heads up to be fed with a spoon anyway.
Contrary to popular beliefs, maternal diet during pregnancy plays no role in the development of food allergy in babies. A large, well-conducted Swedish study published in the
When introducing a food to your baby for the first time, it is a good idea not to try another new food in the next four days. This way, if your baby has an allergic reaction to the food item, it is easy to figure out which food is the culprit. For older children, parents should delay introduction of peanut products, fish, and shellfish until after the age of three.
Alert!
If your child has a medically diagnosed severe food allergy, always carry emergency medication. This medication is basically injectable adrenaline. It is a potent antidote to a severe allergic reaction that involves the whole body. Having this medication nearby in case of a severe allergic reaction could mean the difference between life and death.
Even though food allergies in other family members do increase the likelihood of allergy in an individual, the direct inheritance of food allergies is not common. Even if both parents are severely allergic to peanuts, their child is most likely not going to share that same allergy. Pediatricians do not automatically test such a child for peanut allergy or assume that the child is allergic to peanuts. It is still a good idea, however, to closely monitor the child the first time he tries a peanut butter sandwich.
