 Does
your child have a food intolerance or allergy?
Parents are more aware today of the dangers of food allergies and
intolerance. But many myths still surround the whole issue...
What's the difference between food allergy and food intolerance?
A food allergy usually causes an immediate reaction after eating
the culprit food. The body's immune system overreacts to a normally harmless
substance such as peanuts and produces large quantities of antibodies
causing symptoms ranging from a rash to swelling of body parts.
On the other hand food intolerance causes a delayed reaction,
taking hours or even days to become apparent, and it can also be on-going
problem irritation.
Examples include stomach ache, glue ear, diarrhoea or hyperactivity.
Intolerance happens because the body doesn't produce enough of the necessary
chemical or enzyme needed to digest the particular food.
What are the most common food allergies and intolerance?
The most common food allergies are:
- Wheat, rye, oats and barley
- Eggs · Sesame seeds
- Nuts, including peanuts
- Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit
- Cow's milk and its products
- Fish and shell fish
- Soya bean
Intolerance of cow's milk is common because it contains a type of sugar
called lactose. Many children have a shortage of the enzyme lactase needed
to break down milk so it can be absorbed safely into the bloodstream.
Caffeine and additives such as monosodium glutamate (a meat flavouring),
and yellow food colouring tartrazine are also common intolerances.
What are the possible reactions?
Allergic reactions tend to be immediate and not linked to the amount
of the food consumed. They can cause rashes, vomiting, itching, diarrhoea,
swelling of the lips and breathing difficulties.
Life-threatening allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis, are frightening
but rare. Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction of the immune system affecting
the whole body, involving the release of large amounts of histamine from
cells.
This causes itching or swelling, a drop in blood pressure and possibly
loss of consciousness. The airways can constrict causing chest tightness
and shortness of breath.
Food intolerance reactions are not as dramatic or dangerous. They include
headaches, palpitations, vomiting, bloating, or diarrhoea and are usually
related to the amount of the offending food consumed.
How are allergies and intolerances diagnosed?
Parents who think their child is allergic or intolerant to a food should
speak to their GP immediately and tell them about the symptoms and recall
the food consumed by the child.
Depending on the severity of the reaction the GP will either refer the
child to a dietitian straight away or advise keeping a full dietary diary
for a fortnight with detailed notes on the timings and seriousness of
the symptoms.
The diary often highlights the problem but a second visit to the GP will
be necessary to see if the child needs help from a dietitian and further
tests.
Suspicions over a certain food can also be confirmed with a 'skin prick'
test which releases a tiny amount of the product into the skin.
If it is the offending food it will cause a reaction and within minutes
the child's skin will become itchy, red and swollen and a 'weal' will
appear - like the reaction to a stinging nettle.
Blood tests can show whether high levels of antibodies are present within
blood - indicating an allergic reaction.
Angela Johnson, Paediatric Dietitian for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust,
said: 'If a parent suspects their child has a food allergy they should
seek medical advice and speak to their GP.
'They should not exclude foods from their child's diet without seeking
professional advice. It is vital to ensure their child's diet remains
nutritionally adequate for normal growth and development.'
Breastfeeding - allergies and irritants
Remember, if you are breastfeeding then whatever you are eating your
baby eats too, so be careful what you consume.
But research shows breastfeeding reduces the risk of children developing
allergies themselves. Read
more about breastfeeding and allergies here.
Peanuts or no peanuts?
Advice on whether it is safe to eat peanuts has changed repeatedly but
the current thinking is that mothers should eat peanuts whilst they are
expecting.
Research carried out by the House of Lords' science and technology committee
showed mothers who do not eat peanuts during pregnancy could leave their
child more susceptible to allergies.
The findings are based on studies which discovered in countries where
babies are weaned on peanuts, allergy rates were low or non-existent.
In contrast, childhood allergies have increased in Britain in the last
decade.
What happens if my child is diagnosed with an allergy or intolerance?
Parents of children with allergies or food intolerances need to monitor
everything they eat and read food labels carefully.
The best treatment for a food allergy is complete avoidance but this
is not the case for food intolerance.
Unlike allergies, it is possible for children who are diagnosed with
a food intolerance to have a small amount of the culprit food without
any reaction.
Parents should keep a food diary of the amounts of food consumed and
symptoms. Over a period of time trial and error will show just how much
of a culprit food the child can eat.
For parents reading labels can be easier said than done as problem foods
are not always clearly signalled. For example, sodium caseinate and whey
syrup solids are derived from milk. Full lists are available from dietitians.
Recipes must be adapted and wherever possible for children with allergies
try to avoid foods containing additives and preservatives. Most supermarkets
have a 'free-from' range which is also helpful.
When eating out parents should take extra care - do not be afraid to
check ingredients and quantities with restaurant staff and if in doubt
don't take the risk.
Birthday parties and school lunches also become problematic. Make sure
the responsible adult fully understands the situation or provide the child
with a packed lunch.
Will my child grow out of it?
Allergies can be outgrown but it depends on what food the child reacts
to. Statistics show up to 90 per cent of children will grow out of cow's
milk and eggs allergies but only 10 to 20 per cent will outgrow nut allergies.
Food intolerance is not a life-long problem either - if the food is avoided
for a long period the body might be able to tolerate it again in small
quantities.
Mothers' allergy fears not founded, says new research
Researchers at the University of Portsmouth have discovered that parents
are increasingly likely to assume their children have an allergy or intolerance,
even when there is little evidence.
The study found that contrary to popular belief, the true rate of food
hypersensitivity has not risen in the last 20 years.
Researchers spent three years studying nearly all the babies born on
the Isle of Wight in a year. Out of 807 babies, more than a third of their
parents - 272 - said their child was allergic or intolerant to a food
but only 60 were actually allergic to any food by the age of three.
Carina Venter, the dietitian who carried out the research, said: 'People
have become more aware of food allergies. Mums tend to put down every
rash, tummy ache, diarrhoea and crying to food allergy or intolerance.'
Where to next?
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