Kids Allergies

A kids allergies can make parenting very difficult. Trust me, I know. My oldest child has had food allergies all his life. When he was a baby, diagnosing this was a nightmare. He spit up constantly and his skin was always dry and itchy. In desperation I went from breastfeeding to every type of formula on the market. None of them seemed to agree with him. When we started introducing solids - we had the same issues. Finally when he was eleven months old, we took him off all solids, put him on an amino acid formula, and started the process of introducing foods all over again. At that time food allergy awareness was not what it is today. And alternative food products were not readily available. Now just about every grocery store has a natural foods section that offers soy, wheat substitutes, and nut free options. We have truly come a long way. Understanding Kids Allergies to Food In very basic terms - a food allergy occurs when a person-s body thinks that a harmless food protein is actually a harmful substance. When a person eats something that they are allergic to, their immune system attacks that protein and over produces histamines to fight it off. This can cause a variety of symptoms from itchiness and hives, to stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nausea, to an anaphylactic reaction, to death - and everything in between. To me, the scariest thing about a food allergy is the unpredictability of the reaction. Obviously, avoiding the offending food is the best course of action. But sometimes foods aren-t clearly labeled. Other times - cross contamination is an issue. This is when the food that an allergic person is eating doesn-t actually contain the allergen but has come into contact with that substance. For example, a person with a wheat allergy may order a burger with no bun at a restaurant. Out of habit, the chef might prepare the burger on a bun and belatedly realize that the customer ordered no bun. Instead of preparing a whole new burger, he might just remove the bun - after all, he thinks, what is the big deal? The big deal is the allergic reaction that the customer will experience either in the restaurant or later when he returns home after the meal. Consult a Doctor If you even suspect that your child has a food allergy - it is important to consult your pediatrician and an allergist. At the very minimum you may need a prescription for epinephrine - a brand that many people are familiar with is the Epi Pen. This little device can save a life if administered in a timely fashion. And it goes without saying that an allergic child should have this with him at all times. A doctor will also help the family to come up with an emergency medical care plan, so they know exactly what to do in the event of a reaction. One resource that I continue to turn to for parenting advice regarding kids allergies is the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (at foodallergy.org) They offer a lot of good advice and allergy management tips.