How Does Children food intolerance Differs From Child Food Allergies
Nutrition for children is not always just a matter of getting the recommended daily allowance of each food group and making healthy eating choices; for a few of them, child nutrition involves diagnosis and management of children food intolerance , which adds an altogether different aspect to good nutrition. A diagnosis of child food intolerance often comes when child, infant, babies,toddler food allergies are expected, although many parents fail to see an effective difference between the two. So what is food intolerance in children and how is it different than child food allergies? And does it really matter at all?
Defining Food Allergy In Children?
Allergists and Medical professionals and often support the more narrow definition of food allergy. They are of the opinion that a true food allergy is one that elicits a true allergic reaction; a true allergic reaction arise as a result of a build-up of excessive amounts of the immune system antibody immunoglobulin E, or IgE. In many cases, the build-up of IgE comes after repeated exposure to an allergen.
 When IgE accumulates to a certain level, the body will begin to react in defense of the body; leukotriene, histamine and other blood chemicals are released which result in the typical allergy symptoms well-known to most people. In the case of a real food allergy in children, IgE should be present and identifiable in the bloodstream.
What Is Children Food Intolerance?
Food intolerance in children presents in much the same manner as food allergy in children. Any of the following allergy-like symptoms may be present:
• Common nasal allergy symptoms and/or congestion
• Rash,hives, skin reactions
• Eczema
• Vomiting or stomach upset
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain or cramp
• General fatigue and malaise
Normally, a doctor will choose a diagnosis of food hypersensitivity or children food intolerance instead of a diagnosis of food allergy in children when there is not the presence of immune antibodies. Allergy testing, namely RAST blood tests or scratch/skin tests will be negative, but allergy symptoms will persist. The end result is normally the same—a few foods are causing negative bodily reactions—but the condition is termed differently.
Allergy From Food vs. Children Food Intolerance —Does It Matter?
There are a few cases where a diagnosis of food allergy in children rather than a diagnosis of food intolerance in children may make a difference.
• When there are severe food allergies that require special medical attention and emergency procedures (i.e., when anaphylaxis is a threat, or when a child requires an injectable epinephrine prescription in case of exposure); a food allergy diagnosis may be more recognizable and taken more seriously by some people. A medical food allergy diagnosis also greatly helps emergency medical personnel precisely what to look for.
• In such a case where desensitization via allergy shots/immunotherapy is an option; in order for immunotherapy (allergy shots) to be effective, the right allergen extract must be introduced to desensitize against immune antibodies. Allergy shots are not that effective when immune antibodies are not causing symptoms.
• In the selection of effective medications as treatment; allergy medicines are formulated to act on different body structures and blood chemicals. For a child with food intolerance,a decongestant may still prove effective , but an antihistamine may not, as histamines may not be present causing the symptoms because there is no underlying antibody reaction.
By and large, though, a diagnosis of food allergy in children as opposed to children food intolerance will not significantly impact the outcome. The reason for this is that the best management of children food allergies and food intolerance in children is elimination and avoidance. So while it is very important to identify the foods that are causing a food allergy or children food intolerance , the motivation remains the same—to know what is causing the symptoms so that the offensive foods can be eliminated as much as possible.
The doctor of an affected child or allergist can help devise a plan for identification of triggers of food intolerance in children; identifying food intolerances, normally,consists of a process of research and trial and error elimination. Since limiting foods can result in health problems for children and since knowing where to start can be very difficult, food elimination processes should always be performed under the control of a physician. Therefore,with such information in hand, learning to manage food intolerance in children is a matter of managing the child's diet.
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