Learn About Food Allergies in Toddlers
In current a long time there is an growing consciousness of your variety of illnesses and complaints that may be triggered, or contributed to, from the presence of allergic reactions. Allergic reactions are rather common. Conservative estimates are that twenty % from the population is allergic to something. Yet when we take into consideration minor allergic reactions for example hay fever, small eczema and food intolerances, the correct incidences of allergic reactions and or intolerances may well properly be a lot higher. It is thought that the changes in the Western diet over the last 100-200 years – in particular the refining of meals, the use of food additives and the increased consumption of animal produce and the presence of environmental pollution, have contributed substantially to the prevalence of all forms of allergic disease.
What is an allergy?
The word means an ‘altered reaction’ and an allergic individual usually suffers from physical symptoms (including, headaches and migraines, vomiting, rashes, asthma) when he or she comes in contact with substances to which they are sensitive. The substance which provokes the reaction is called an allergen and might be house dust, dog or cat fur, a food/s, a chemical/s or a bacterium – to name just a few. In this article we are looking at food allergic reactions.
When solid foods are introduced, a baby may perhaps have an ‘allergic reaction’ to wheat for instance, and develop diarrhoea, abdominal colic, crankiness, a runny nose, or even a mild ear infection, asthma or eczema. The cause of these symptoms is often not recognised and may even be treated as a transient infection if the problem is a runny nose or ear pain. The offending foods will be continued to be offered and the infant usually recovers from the acute symptoms, though there may possibly be persistent, relatively minor symptoms. At some later stage (days, months, years later) either following periods of infection or stress or just due to a gradual failure to remain healthy, symptoms develop.
If the meals is withdrawn, the symptoms usually clear within three to five days, though sometimes, specifically in children this can get as long as three weeks. There might possibly also be marked withdrawal symptoms which eventually clear.
When introducing new foods to babies and toddlers you need to be aware from the symptoms of allergy symptoms. This is particularly the case when parents or other members of your family have foods allergy symptoms.
What does a food allergy look like in a baby or toddler?
The symptoms associated with food allergies are legion and can mimic an entire range of different clinical conditions. It depends to the baby or toddler. Some of your symptoms babies and toddlers develop include:
* an itchy mouth and throat, * a rashes, eczema and hives, * cramping and colic, * nausea and vomiting, * diarrhea or constipation,* wheezing, sneezing, runny nose, * unusual crying, * shortness of breath, * hyperactivity, and* sleep disturbances.
In extreme cases, a child might develop a life-threatening condition called anaphylactic shock. Severe symptoms or reactions to any allergen require immediate medical attention.
What are the common causes of food allergies?
Foods that are the most likely to cause an allergy include:
* wheat, rye, oats, barley, maize (corn), * cow’s milk and other dairy products, * hen eggs, and chicken meat, * cane and beet sugar, * fish and shellfish, * peanuts, * colourings and preservatives, * yeast, * pork, * chocolate, and * citrus fruit. What can you do?
Here are two things you can do as a parent to reduce your baby’s susceptibility to food allergic reactions and reduce the severity of foods allergic reactions:
* Wait until your baby is at least 6 months old to introduce solids. * Apply the 4-day wait rule when introducing new foods to your baby. Waiting until your baby is 6 months old
Babies are not born with adult digestive systems and they cannot handle foods and will not digest them properly until their digestive systems have matured, at 4 to 6 months of age. Prior to that, your baby should only have breast milk or formula. Waiting until your baby is 6 months old to feed them solids will give them the best chance of actually being able to digest the foods and a smooth digestion reduces risk of allergic reactions.
The 4-day wait rule
When you begin to feed your baby solids, you need to be sure that the foods isn’t causing a reaction. Sometimes, it can take three or four days for a reaction to show up.
Introduce one food at a time and then wait for four days before introducing another foods.
It is worthwhile keeping a meals diary, noting which foods are introduced and when. This information might possibly be incredibly valuable later if your baby develops some kind of reaction which could be attributed to an infection or upset, or wind or whatever, though it may possibly in fact be a food reaction. If you also note when particular problems start, you can pretty often identify the offending meals, exclude it from the baby’s diet, and have a healthy, happy baby.
If there is a family history of food intolerance then it is recommended that you avoid the introduction of cow’s milk or wheat until the baby is twelve months or even older. (If you introduce these foods at all ??” but that is another issue.)
Allergic reactions are really widespread and can cause serious reactions. The digestive and immune systems of a baby need to be sufficiently developed before solid foods are introduced. Introducing solid foods too early or introducing foods which are likely to cause problems too soon will stress the baby’s immature systems. When introducing solid foods you need to aware with the possibility of alleric reactions and should you be concerned about a reaction stop giving this food and allow the baby more time to mature. While the above details are intended to be generally helpful and educational they should not be construed as a replacement for individual advice from a health professional. You should seek professional assistance if your child’s allergy is sudden, extreme, long-lasting or fails to improve.
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