Food Allergies In Children Recipes Food Cooking International
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Food Allergies In Children Tested With The Food Challenge
By Julia Taylor-Fernandez
Food allergies in young children can be troublesome for the child,
the parents and the entire family. Most everyone agrees that it
would be best if the food allergy could be overcome and everyone
could just go on living and eating normally again.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 50%
of child food allergies to milk, egg and soy and 20% of peanut
allergies will be outgrown by age 6. Those who don’t and continue
to experience reactions until age 12 will likely have these problems
their whole lives. One of the methods used to treat food allergies
in children is called the Food Challenge.
Currently, there are two preliminary tests for food allergies
in kids. After going over the child’s and family’s medical history,
a basic physical examination and asking questions about the child’s
diet, pediatricians generally recommend a blood test.
A Blood Test And A Prick Skin Test
Even though this is not 100% predictive, many allergies can be
ruled out this way. During this test, a small amount of blood
will be drawn and observed for the presence of IgE antibody, which
will reveal an immune system response to a particular food protein.
For people with extreme shellfish or peanut allergies, this test
is preferred because the patient does not have to be exposed to
the potential allergens. During the 30-minute prick skin test,
a tiny amount of solution containing a suspected allergen is placed
on the skin, which is then pricked to let the solution get below
the surface.
If there is an allergic reaction, such as itchiness or a bump,
then it’s likely there is a food allergy.
Finding The Tolerance Threshold
More and more scientists are coming to the conclusion that a
Food Challenge is the best way to treat food allergies in children.
Researchers say the Food Challenge is also the most accurate way
of knowing whether a child is truly allergic to something or not.
After asking some basic questions and performing a typical physical,
the allergy specialist will give the child a very small amount
of suspected allergen and monitor the allergic reaction in a clinical
setting. Sometimes just one-sixth of a peanut will be given until
the specialist finds the child’s tolerance threshold.
Eating A Little More In A Clinical Setting
Over time, most children are able to eat a little more peanut
each time, until they are able to consume up to 15 peanuts a day!
While this approach may seem dangerous, it has proven successful
in many cases and all the necessary medical equipment is in the
room to help should a rare case of anaphylaxis occur. Patients
with severe asthma or who are otherwise sickly should not participate
in a Food Challenge.
There are several steps you must take to prepare for a Food Challenge
to test food allergies in children. First, check with your doctor
about whether to stop any antihistamine medications.
Fasting And Skipping Breakfast
Antidepressants can also sometimes affect the allergic reactions
results. Your child should begin fasting at midnight the evening
before the test and should also skip breakfast. Clear liquids
like water, apple juice, fruit juices, iced tea, Gatorade, gelatin,
popsicles and water are allowed.
Often you will need to bring the type of food to be tested, along
with some of your child’s favorite snacks. It’s also a good idea
to bring a few toys and a change of clothes in case vomiting occurs.
You can expect doses of the food to be given every 20 minutes,
so most tests last from 8 am to 3 pm. Children who experience
a significant reaction may be observed for a period of four hours.
Please Note: All information given
on this site is for information purposes and is not to replace
any medical opinion or medical diagnosis or any other medical
expert, as individual circumstances may vary. Please see your
medical doctor, before any action is taken to alleviate symptoms.
About the Author:
Julia Taylor-Fernandez has written a number of articles on food,
cooking and dieting including General
Nutrition, Salad
Dressings, Low
Carb Cheese Cake, Teen
Weight Loss, Low
Carb Dinners, Health
Food Store, Organic
Baby Food.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles on this website.
Did You Know?
What are the most common child food allergies?
The most common food allergies your child
or any child can have are: peanuts, tree nuts, shell fish, fish,
egg whites, milk, soy and wheat. It is important to know what
an allergen truly is versus something that just causes stomach
upset.
A good example is milk. People often say
they are allergic to milk but in reality they are just lactose
intolerant. Drinking milk will not produce an immune system reaction
but could produce upset stomach and diarrhea. This is because
the child, or adult’s body, does not have a certain enzyme to
be able to digest the milk.
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