The Basics Of Food Allergies In Children
 Food allergies in children are the subject of some debate among medical professionals; the existence of food allergies that affect children is not debatable, but the precise definition of child food allergies vs. food intolerance is. In any case, for many children child food allergies are a very real issue, and the optimal well-being of affected infants,babies and children relies on identification of foods that are causing discomfort or hazard to children with food allergies.
Child Food Allergies vs. Food Intolerance
True allergies can be defined, as a reaction of the immune system that results from a build-up of immunoglobulin, or IgE. When reactions cannot be supported with increased blood levels of IgE, as is often the case with child food allergies, the child may ,thus,be diagnosed with a food intolerance rather than a child food allergy.
Functionally, the semantics of allergy vs. intolerance have little impact, save for the fact that food intolerances are normally less life-threatening and less severe. Therefore, what parents of children and children with child food allergies want to know is what they can do to make their child, or themselves, feel better.
Common Food Allergy Triggers in Children
Any food or food substance can become an allergy trigger in a child. As food allergies in children often (but certainly not always) develop following increased exposure to a food, the foods most commonly eaten are the foods that are seen in the majority of child food allergy cases.
Seven of the most common child food allergy triggers are:
(1)A child with a milk allergy may also be allergic to sheep or goat's milk. The protein found in milk, whey or casein in most cases is the actual allergen; lactose (a milk sugar) reaction is normally categorized as a child food intolerance. But by age 5,all but 15% of milk allergies are outgrown.
(2)The largest number of food allergies in children can occur as a result of eggs consumption; Either the white or the yolk (yellow) of the egg, or to both may be the cause of allergic reaction in very young children. Like milk, egg allergies are also usually outgrown by age five at a rate of 85%.
(3) Peanut allergies have been getting a lot of attention because reactions can be very severe ,and even life threatening, and it can be difficult to know what products may have trace amounts of peanuts in them. In the vast majority of cases (80%), peanut allergies are not outgrown.
(4) Tree nuts are different from peanuts, so a child peanut allergy will not necessarily have a child food allergy to the other (in fact most do not); however, where tree nuts and peanuts have been used and produced, children with a tree nut or peanut allergy are strongly advised not to eat any nuts at all.
(5) Wheat allergy is a reaction to a wheat protein which can produce a variety of reactions and symptoms. Many children outgrow wheat allergies, which is beneficial because wheat and proteins found in wheat exist in a very large percentage of common staple foods.
(6) Soy allergies are normally of minimal danger and are outgrown early on in most cases. This legume that is related to the peanut, but food allergies in children to both peanuts and soy are very rare.
(7) Shellfish and Fish-although the two are physically different, shellfish and fish comprise the seventh child food allergy category, in most part because people often lump and serve the two together. A child with a shellfish or fish allergy is not likely to outgrow the allergy and reactions are often severe. Avoiding all types of shellfish or fish(respectively) is advised when an allergy exists due to a high risk of being allergic to another kind.
Symptoms Of Food Allergies in Children
The symptoms of food allergies in children are as varied as the causes. Symptoms of child food allergies range from the well-known itchiness, swelling ,hives and skin rashes to facial swelling and extreme difficulty breathing. Child allergy symptoms may be immediate or delayed, and can also include stomach upset, nausea, constipation or diarrhea.
Reacting To Children Food Allergy
Reacting to a children food allergy is essentially no different than reacting to any other type of childhood allergy, except that once triggers are identified,child food allergies may be more avoidable. As with all allergic reactions, the most biggest concern falls to the most severe, and the closest attention must be paid to the child's ability to breathe and move air; Immediate medical attention is necessary ,whenever breathing is compromised as a result of a child food allergy.
The difference between children food intolerance and children food allergies
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