Food allergy isn't yet fully understood and hard evidence of its incidence is difficult to find. But if you think your baby is allergic or sensitive to something he's eating, what should you do?
A food allergy is an often immediate allergic reaction to a specific food, and food intolerance or sensitivity is a non-allergic, sometimes delayed, unpleasant reaction to a certain food. According to Allergy UK, food allergy affects about two per cent of the population. However, far more people have some sort of sensitivity to a substance, including foods and drinks. Indications are that as many as one in three people are affected in this way.
Babies can also affected by food allergy or intolerance, but often grow out of it as they get older and their immune and digestive systems mature. Dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, are sometimes implicated in children's health problems, like ear infections, skin conditions and behavioural difficulties. Additives and artificial colourings have also been associated with behavioural problems.
Symptoms of food allergy and intolerance vary from person to person, and could be caused by something else, so it's always best to have your child properly diagnosed by their GP. Signs and symptoms to look out for include:
- Swelling of the lips, tongue or face
- Itchy mouth and throat
- Rash
- Cramping and abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Bloated stomach and intestinal gas
- Sneezing and a blocked or runny nose
Symptoms of severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, include swollen lips and tongue, an itchy rash, tightening of the throat and difficulty breathing. Left untreated, it can cause loss of consciousness and, in rare cases, can be fatal. If you suspect anaphylaxis, call 999 or go to casualty immediately.
If you think your baby might have a food allergy or intolerance, consult your GP for proper diagnosis. Speak to your health visitor or doctor if there is a history of peanut allergy or severe food allergy in your family.
Common foods that cause allergy or sensitivity include cow's milk, eggs, wheat, shellfish such as shrimps, nuts - especially peanuts, soy beans, citrus fruit, tomatoes and additives.
If you suspect a link between your child's health or behaviour and his diet, you should seek advice from your health visitor or a dietician before eliminating suspect food. Cutting out milk, for example, from the diet is a big step to take, and you need to be sure you can replace the nutrients in some other way to avoid deficiencies.
Can allergy and sensitivity be avoided?
Although eczema and asthma are not necessarily connected with diet, research shows that breastfeeding exclusively for six months reduces the risk of these conditions developing. Other research shows that introducing your baby to solids early - before 15 weeks - is linked with the development of wheezing, often a symptom of asthma.
If you have allergies and sensitivities within your family, then breastfeeding is a good way to help protect your baby. If you prefer not to breastfeed or aren't able to, then it's advisable not to wean your baby onto solid foods until at least after 15 weeks.
Diagnosing allergy and intolerance
Allergies to foods such as wheat, dairy, peanuts and fruits can be tested for, most accurately by a skin prick test or a blood test. During a skin prick test a small amount of the suspect food is put on the child's skin in liquid form and is pricked through. A bump will appear within minutes if your child has an allergy to that food. This test can either be performed by your GP or at an allergy clinic.
A blood test involves taking a small sample of blood and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. Results take longer - around one to two weeks - which is why the skin prick test is more common.
It's also very useful to keep a diary of what your child eats, and if and when symptoms show up, to help identify which foods could be causing a problem. Talk to your GP or a dietitian for advice to get you started.
Living with an allergy
Once an allergy or sensitivity has been diagnosed, you'll have to make changes to your child's diet to cut out the foods identified as causing a reaction. Always do this with medical advice to avoid nutritional deficiencies. A dietitian will also be able to give you information about what ingredients to look out for when checking food labels, as foods and food derivatives often have different names.
Shopping, cooking and eating out might be tricky at first but will soon become second nature. Fortunately many supermarkets are well stocked with specialist food, like dairy, gluten and wheat-free varieties, and there are loads of recipe books that cater for special diets offering alternative recipes to make mealtimes feel more normal.
It's possible to gradually introduce small amounts of foods that cause sensitivities to gauge whether your child is able to tolerate low levels. But never reintroduce a food that your child is allergic to without expert medical advice.
