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Allergies can be downright annoying. They can be even worse for those who discover they have food allergies. Often, parents can not tell when their child has developed an allergy to food or food by products until the child has come in contact with the food. By this time, unfortunately, it is already too late because the child has suffered through a bad allergic reaction.

Food allergies, as opposed to food sensitivities, occur in the immune system. A true allergy to a food usually results in a violent bodily reaction caused by the immune system attacking the offending protein as it gets into the body and the bloodstream. This reaction can at times lead even to the death of the person afflicted with this condition.

The immune system makes an antibody called IgE, which seeks out and bonds with the protein of the food that a person is allergic to. The build up of IgE proteins in the blood stream releases a stream of chemicals that can cause itching, swelling, vomiting, fever, difficulty breathing, and many other symptoms, and can eventually lead to the entire body shutting down.

Most food allergies appear before a child reaches the age of three. If, however, a child is never exposed to a certain food that they have an allergy to in the toddler years, they might show an allergic reaction later in life.

The most common food allergies come from products like milk, soy, eggs, wheat and nuts. These foods account for over ninety percent of allergies in children.

There is a major difference between having food sensitivities and actually being allergic to particular foods. People who have food sensitivities will normally have bad reactions to foods but they are much less severe and occur long after the food is consumed. In most cases, there is a two-hour lapse of time separating the food consumption and the reaction.

Those suffering from a true food allergy experience the effects immediately. These troublesome reactions occur each and every time the food is consumed. There is a chance that some allergies will be outgrown if they are avoided early in life, but many children will remain allergic to the food in question for the rest of their lives.

If you suspect that your child may have a food allergy, it is essential to have them screened through the use of an allergy skin test. This will get rid of any doubts in your mind about whether or not there is an allergy present. Once diagnosed, inform all health providers, family, and friends about the situation, and teach your child to ask what is in the foods that they are offered. The best way to deal with allergies in children is to entirely avoid the foods that cause the reaction.

It’s not possible, however, to protect your child from dangerous foods every minute of every day. Packaging and labeling of food has improved a lot in recent years, and packaged foods are usually clearly labeled with potentially allergic products. However, your child may not know how to read the labels, and may inadvertently get a hold of a snack that has traces of an allergen such as peanuts in it.

Since food allergy reactions can become life-threatening, make sure to always have an Epi-pen around. An Epi-pen can stave off dangerous reactions until professional help arrives. Once the Epi-pen is administered, call 911 to get your child proper medical attention.

Tags: Allergies and Asthma