What is a food allergy and what are the symptoms in children?
Almost 1 in 12 young children suffer from a food allergy and the most common food allergies in infants are eggs, milk and peanuts.
What is a food allergy?
Food allergies occur when your immune system becomes confused. Instead of ignoring harmless food proteins, it triggers a reaction, which leads to the release of a chemical called histamine.
It is histamine that causes the classic allergy symptom of hives or swelling. A severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis, and this can be life threatening.
What are the symptoms of Food allergy in babies and children?
There are some classic signs of a food allergy to look out for but the way in children may describe how they are experiencing a food allergy can be quite different to an adult.
They might say...
My tongue (or mouth) is tingling or burning
My mouth feels funny
My tongue (or mouth) itches
My tongue feels like there is a hair on it
There's something stuck in my throat
My lips feel tight
It feels like there is a bump on the back of my tongue
This food is too spicy
These are allergy symptoms from an immediate allergic response by the immune system.
Symptoms of an immediate food allergy:
Mild to moderate symptoms typically affect the skin, the respiratory system and the gut.
A flushed face, hives, a red and itchy rash around the mouth, tongue or eyes. This can spread across the entire body.
Mild swelling, particularly of the lips, eyes and face.
A runny or blocked nose, sneezing and watering eyes.
Nausea and vomiting, tummy cramps and diarrhoea.
A scratchy or itchy mouth and throat.
Severe symptoms (anaphylaxis). These require urgent medical attention.
Wheezing or chest tightness, similar to a severe asthma attack.
Swelling of the tongue and throat, restricting the airways. This can cause noisy breathing (especially on breathing in), a cough or a change in voice
A sudden drop in blood pressure (called hypotension) leading to shock.
Dizziness, confusion, collapse, loss of consciousness and sometimes coma.
Delayed food allergies
Delayed food allergies, sensitivities intolerances can present differently with rashes, eczema, reflux, constipation/diarrhoea, tummy pain, distress and crying and sometimes not immediately after the offending food has been consumed!
It’s no wonder it’s so difficult to try and identify what your child is reacting to!
Symptoms of delayed food allergy
Eczema
Reflux – an effortless vomiting
Poor growth
Abdominal bloating
Constipation and/or diarrhoea
Raising knees to chest with tummy pain
Frequent distress and crying