| An increasing number of children suffer from | | | | |
| severe food allergy. Children don't just | | | | If you suspect that your child is suffering |
| develop food allergy when they begin to eat | | | | from food-allergy you should consult with |
| solid food: some develop food allergy right | | | | your pediatrician. Unfortunately many |
| from the start, when they're being | | | | pediatricians are reluctant to conclude that |
| breastfeed. | | | | a child is allergic to food. Your may have to |
| | | | fight your corner. Also many are hesitant to |
| If a mother is allergic to any food the | | | | tell a mother to drop things from her diet, |
| chances are her child may also be allergic to | | | | because they're concerned about her |
| those foods. Many mothers don't realise that | | | | nutrition. Stand your ground and if your |
| they are allergic as they display little or | | | | pediatrician refuses to listen to your |
| no symptoms. However, the allergic reaction | | | | concerns, you can ask to be referred to an |
| can be much more pronounced in their suckling | | | | allergist. |
| child. What mother eats; baby eats. | | | | |
| | | | The following are common symptoms of food |
| There are eight types of food that account | | | | allergy or intolerance: |
| for all but 10 percent of food-allergy; these | | | | |
| are eggs, wheat, dairy, soy and peanuts, tree | | | | Chronic eczema: Long periods of scaly and |
| nuts, fish and shellfish. | | | | itchy skin rashes. |
| | | | |
| One in every 17 children under the age of 3 | | | | Hives: Often-itchy red welts on the surface |
| -- that's 5.8 percent -- has a food allergy, | | | | of the skin. |
| according to The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis | | | | |
| Network (FAAN), a nonprofit organization | | | | Chronic unexplained digestive or respiratory |
| dedicated to educating the public about food | | | | problems. |
| allergies. But identifying that your baby is | | | | |
| suffering from food-allergy can be difficult | | | | Colic: chronic, unexplained, excessive |
| as the symptoms displayed are attributable to | | | | crying. |
| other factors. | | | | |
| | | | Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction |
| A number of children eventually outgrow food | | | | that can be fatal. Call the emergency |
| allergies. Peanut allergies, however, tend to | | | | services immediately if you see signs of |
| be lifelong. If you know that you suffered | | | | anaphylaxis. Symptoms include: Severe hives |
| from food allergy as a child you should avoid | | | | or hives in conjunction with another |
| those foods whilst you are breastfeeding. | | | | reaction, facial swelling, swelling of mouth |
| Even if you have never suffered from any | | | | and throat (the constriction of the throat is |
| food-allergy you can cut down the risks of | | | | especially dangerous because as the throat |
| your baby developing a food-allergy by | | | | swells shut, the child will stop breathing -- |
| avoiding the eight main allergy causing | | | | child turns blue with lack of oxygen), |
| foods. Also, when you wean your child you | | | | vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, drop in blood |
| should avoid feeding your child these foods | | | | pressure, fainting, death. |
| until they are at least one year of age. | | | | |
| Introduce these foods one-by-one and observe | | | | The following organizations provide help and |
| your child's reaction after feeding. | | | | support for food-allergy sufferers. |