Understanding Food Allergies in Infants

Food Allergens for Infants

According to doctors, here are the most common allergenic foods for babies:

• Fish (especially shellfish)

• Nuts (tree nuts like walnuts and almonds, particularly)

• Cow’s milk

• Eggs

• Peanuts

• Wheat and other foods with gluten content

• Soy

Introduce these foods one by one and in tiny quantities to check for food allergies in infants.

Symptoms

How do you know if your baby has a food allergy or not? Here are the common symptoms you have to watch out for:

• Diarrhoea

• Vomiting

• Runny nose

• Rashes on the skin and eczema-like symptoms

• Muscle cramps

• Noticeable swelling in parts of the baby’s mouth (sometimes accompanied by itching)

• Breathlessness (wheezing-like symptoms)

• Feeling tight around the throat (sometimes throat-itching as well)

• Drop in the baby’s blood pressure

• Sudden red welts (hives) on the skin

• Loss of consciousness

• Watery eyes

Some allergens cause immediate reactions, whereas some take about an hour to trigger a reaction. So, the key is to be patient and observant to find these food allergies in infants.

Diagnosis

To diagnose the presence and intensity of food allergies in infants, your doctor can use following diagnostic procedures:

• Physical examination of the infant

• Understanding the history of food allergies in family, if any

• Skin Test to identify the allergens that trigger the allergic reactions

• Blood tests to check the level of IgE antibodies for different food allergens

Most infants may initially exhibit allergic reactions to foods like eggs and milk. However, their bodies get used to these foods as they grow up. However, allergies to foods like nuts and shellfish can persist for a long time.

How do we manage food allergies in infants?

Milk and eggs contain several nutrients your baby needs for efficient growth and development. Most babies do show a mild allergic reaction to these foods. As a parent, it is natural for to panic when your baby vomits after eating these foods, but you shouldn’t avoid them completely. Try these tips to manage food allergies in infants:

• Introduce potential allergens (eggs, milk, peanuts, etc.) in the very early stages; according to AAP (American Academy of Paediatrics), introducing these foods when your baby is about 6 months old can lower his/her risk of allergies.

• Give tiny quantities of these foods to your baby so that he/she gets used to the taste; watch closely for any adverse reactions before you increase the quantity next time.

• While eggs and milk can be introduced at about 6 months of age, fish and peanuts can be introduced to kids when they are about 1 year old to manage allergies effectively.

Preventing food allergies in infants

Doctors cannot explain the exact reason for food allergies in infants. Some babies are perfectly fine and can eat all types of foods, while some show adverse reactions even to milk. Hence, it becomes challenging to prevent this condition. However, there are four ways in which you can try your best to prevent food allergies in your babies —

• Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months

• Introducing minimal quantities of solid foods to babies only after they turn 6 months old

• Checking with the doctor every time before introducing new solid foods to babies

• Giving honey to babies only when they turn 2 years old to prevent allergies and botulism

Dietary considerations for infants with food allergies

Identifying the allergens is extremely vital when it comes to dealing with food allergies in infants.

• Milk and egg allergies can go away with time; hence, instead of avoiding them completely, you can introduce them in different forms in small quantities.

• When it comes to other foods like nuts and fish, a more careful approach is needed. You must read the label on the packets thoroughly to check all the ingredients (especially formula feeds and other baby foods) for your infant.

• When you come across any new ingredients on the label, check with the doctor immediately to avoid risks.

• Check at regular intervals if the food allergies persist in your kid.

• Take professional help (a dietician) to chalk out a thorough diet plan to manage severe food allergies in infants.

When to consult a pediatrician?

You can seek immediate medical help when your baby goes through a severe bout of breathlessness after eating. When your baby’s lips or face develop a huge swelling, or when the infant continuously vomits/passes extremely loose stools, you must seek instant medical attention to prevent further complications.