Approximately 10% of children are allergic to certain foods. Parents of such children should prepare and learn about food allergies as much as possible, because you can not close your eyes to it. Sometimes an allergy can lead to a disruption in the work of the heart. Even deaths from allergies to milk are known to medicine! We do not frighten you with this, just set it up in a serious way.
What is a food allergy?
If to explain in simple language, then the allergy is a reaction of the immune system of the body. The immune system protein, called "immunoglobulin E," reacts with any particular allergen and an allergy occurs.
Signs of food allergy in children
Here is a list of the most common symptoms of food allergy in children:
- Rashes and redness on the skin. The appearance, shape and size of these rashes can be arbitrary. Very often they are badly itchy and scaly.
- Indigestion. Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased gas formation, mucus in the stool. All these signs can be present both independently and all at once.
- A red rash around the anus.
- Coryza. There may be itching in the nose or stuffiness.
- Redness and tearing of the eyes.
- Various edema. This symptom appears in the most severe cases. May swell hands, feet, genitals, nose, eyelids, etc. When swelling occurs, immediately call an ambulance!
If you suspect a child's food allergy, then try to determine the list of foods that could trigger this reaction.
Treatment of food allergies in children
Diet
To treat food allergies in children should follow a corrective diet. This is the very first thing that must be done in the fight against this disease. Menu for a child with a food allergy is best done with an allergist or pediatrician to do everything correctly and in the future to avoid a recurrence.
If within three months of such a diet the child did not experience any aggravation of the allergy, then the doctors allow the expansion of the diet. One new product per week, in small portions.
Medications
In some cases, an allergist may prescribe antihistamines to you. The main rule when taking these drugs is compliance with the regime. The medicine should be given strictly on schedule.
Recently, doctors very often began to use homeopathic medicines, which, in no case, can not be selected independently. Their selection is based on weight, age and other individual factors.
Also do not forget about the stomach. All allergic manifestations pass through the stomach, which suffers in the first place. Therefore, it is appropriate to take drugs that support and normalize the microflora, for example bifidumbacterin or linex.
Food allergy in infants
On the smallest human allergies can affect much more than adults, since the child's body is not able to cope with an allergic attack on it. Unfortunately, even with the milk of a nursing mother, allergens can enter the baby's body. Therefore, first of all you need to revise the mother's menu.
When allergies appear, doctors advise breastfeeding mothers to exclude "suspicious" foods for 1-2 weeks, including sugar, salt, fried and milk.
After consulting with an allergist, you can start using antihistamines, special creams and ointments. As well as in cases with older children, it is necessary to start taking medications to maintain the intestinal microflora in the norm.
In order to reassure parents it is worth noting that most of the children outgrow their allergy. Therefore, if it is right and timely to carry out all antiallergic activities, most likely your child will get rid of this disease.