By Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers

Food Allergies and Children

Nuts are common allergen among children and they can cause one of the more severe, even life- threatening allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis.

Only about 6 percent of all children have clinically diagnosed food allergies. This number is rather small, but food intolerance, which presents itself much like a food allergy, adds to the public perception that this is a major issue. While the medical difference is quite different, the solution to a food allergy and intolerance is to remove the culprit food from your diet.

Food allergies can be very dangerous, and early detection is critical to managing them and the health of your child. Any family history of food allergies should be discussed with your health care provider prior to introducing solid foods to your baby. Food allergies or food intolerances can occur even if there is no previous family history of such. As you introduce your child to new foods, you should introduce each new food one at a time, and watch for any changes in your child's appearance or behavior. Some common symptoms of food allergies/intolerances include:

• Rashes or eczema, especially on the face
• Diaper rash
• Hives
• Runny nose, watery eyes, or sneezing
• Diarrhea, gas, or vomiting
• Irritability
• Temperament changes
• Puffy eyes
• Nasal congestion

Preventing Food Allergies

One way to prevent food allergies is not to introduce commonly-known allergenic foods until later in your baby's life, at 1, 2 or even 3 years old. This approach is referred to as "delayed introduction."  The foods that children react to are those foods they eat often. The most common food allergens that cause problems in children are eggs, milk, peanuts, soy and wheat. A more complete list includes:

• Artificial colors and preservatives
• Berries
• Chocolate
• Citrus fruits
• Cow's milk
• Eggs
• Fish and shellfish
• Nuts
• Peanuts
• Soy
• Tomatoes
• Wheat
• Yeast

Fortunately, many allergic reactions in babies are temporary and the culprit foods can usually be reintroduced when the child is older. Food allergies can be very serious, so it is important to follow the advice that is given to you by a healthcare professional.

Help for the allergy sufferer: While there is no cure for food allergies, eliminating foods from your diet is often easier said than done. Reading ingredient labels of foods can be a daunting and confusing task. Eight major foods - milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans - account for 90 percent of food allergies. If you or your child suffers from one of these common food allergies, there is some good news that makes reading ingredient labels easier. As of January 1, 2006, food manufacturers must include a listing of the plain English name of these culprit foods just below the ingredient listing. These new standards provide a definite improvement for the food allergy sufferer.

Editor's Note: Be sure to talk to your Pediatrician or Allergist before reintroducing a food that you think your child is allergic to, especially if they initially had a severe reaction to that food. And keep in mind that your child is much less likely to grow out of some food allergies, like peanut allergies, than to others, like an allergy to milk.

About the authors: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters, the mothers of five children and founders of Fresh Baby, creators of products such as homemade baby food kits, baby food cookbooks, baby food and breast milk storage trays, breastfeeding reminders, and child development diaries. Visit them online at www.FreshBaby.com and subscribe to their Fresh Ideas newsletter to get monthly ideas, tips and activities for developing your family's healthy eating habits!

Important disclaimer: The information on keepkidshealthy.com is for educational purposes only and should not be considered to be medical advice. It is not meant to replace the advice of the physician who cares for your child. All medical advice and information should be considered to be incomplete without a physical exam, which is not possible without a visit to your doctor.