Food allergy, what is it

 A food allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body's defense system (immune system) to a food: the immune system considers the food as something foreign that it must reject.

This is not the same as a food intolerance. In case of food intolerance, there is no allergic reaction. Generally, with food intolerance, the person lacks certain substances (enzymes) to digest certain foods.

What are the causes of food allergies in children?

In infants and young children, cow's milk is most often the cause of the allergy.

When you start giving your baby solid foods, (chicken) eggs are a common cause.

We see that school-age children who are allergic to birch pollen are also more sensitive:

• raw fruits and vegetables;
• with nuts ;
• vegetables that grow in the ground (like carrots or turnips).

In adolescence, wheat is a common cause of allergies.

How common are food allergies in children?

One in 2 parents think their child under 2 has a food allergy. But figures show that out of 100 children, only 2 to 7 children have a food allergy.

Parents mistakenly think that their child is allergic to foods when they see, for example:

• that he has a bad appetite;
• that he vomits;
• that he makes a lot of referrals;
• that his stools are a little softer.

How to recognize food allergies in children?

Several different signs (symptoms) may appear. They can appear immediately after the meal or several hours (and even days) later. The child may have:

• skin problems: itchy rash and red spots. This can be hives , but also eczema ;
• eye problems: itchy, watery eyes ( conjunctivitis ), swollen eyelids;
• gastrointestinal problems: vomiting , diarrhea , stomach aches . Itching in the mouth, the gateway to food, is common;
• respiratory problems: sneezing, runny nose and wheezing are rather rare and most often due to hay fever present at the same time;
• other signs of illness: the baby cries constantly, he sleeps poorly , he does not gain enough weight.

How is a child's food allergy diagnosed?

Your doctor can get a lot of information by asking the parents questions:

• What are the symptoms ?
• when did they start?
• at what age did the child start eating different foods?

In infants

There is no good test to diagnose a cow's milk allergy in infants. Your doctor thinks of an allergy if symptoms appear a few weeks after introducing cow's milk into the diet. These symptoms disappear as soon as cow's milk is replaced by another milk, such as soy milk. They reappear immediately when the child drinks cow's milk again.

In the case of a very severe allergy, it is possible to have the baby take an exposure test at the hospital. We give the baby a little cow's milk, then more and more. Doctors monitor his reactions.

In older children

In older children, skin tests (prick tests) and blood tests are of little use. To make the diagnosis, the doctor advises parents to no longer give the food suspected of causing the reactions to the child. Then they will give it to him again, gradually. During this test period, parents will have to note what happens in a notebook (logbook). They will observe what happens first when the food is removed from the child's diet, then when it is reintroduced. If several foods are suspected, parents will have to start giving them again one by one. If symptoms return after reintroduction of a specific product, it is likely that food the child is allergic to.

The child is generally referred to a pediatrician if he presents a severe allergy, that is to say in the event of serious symptoms or immediate reactions that could endanger his life.

What can you do ?

Breast milk is the best food for an infant.

If you think your child is allergic, write this information in a logbook:

• when do symptoms appear?
• what are the symptoms (explain them)?
• How long after the meal do the symptoms appear?
• When do you give your baby new foods?
• How does your child react when he eats these foods?

All this information can help your doctor a lot.

Monitor your child's growth, especially height and weight.

When your doctor has diagnosed a food allergy, it is important to follow the proposed diet as closely as possible.

• Until the age of 2, cow's milk is preferably replaced by special milks such as soy milk and whey. If that doesn't work, there are other (more expensive) special milks.
• In older children, foods that cause an allergy should also be completely removed from the diet. There is no point in giving them in small quantities.

It is very difficult to completely avoid certain foods in children. It often happens that the child eats it at a friend's house or during a party. This is why it can be useful for the child to always have medication with him to calm the reactions.

Most food allergies fortunately disappear around age 6.

What can your doctor do?

Parents have the most important role to play in monitoring their child's diet.

Your doctor can advise you and if necessary prescribe a medication capable of blocking the allergic reaction. If your child has serious problems, they will refer you to a pediatrician.