Common Food Allergies in Children

Just about everyone is allergic to something. The severity of our allergic reactions may vary based on our own body's immune system. Food allergies can also be associated with an intolerance of a particular food.

There are some specific food allergies that children are more susceptible to-that are normally outgrown within the first three to five years of their lives.

Let's review a few of the most common food allergies for children.

Milk is one of the most common food allergies that affects children and is common in 2.5 percent of all infants. This will include milk products from cow's, goats and sheep alike. The allergic reaction seems to be directed specifically to casein and whey; milk proteins.

As noted in an article on Baby Center, cow's milk should not be introduced to children until they reach at least one year of age. This is due to the low vitamin content that is needed for proper development, combined with the child's immature digestive system that can not properly digest the milk proteins.

Allergic reactions to milk can include, but are not limited to the following-rash around the mouth and chin areas, wheezing and breathing difficulties, vomiting and irritable bowels. If any of these symptoms are observed after introducing milk into your child's diet, discontinue use and contact your pediatrician immediately.

Eggs present another common source of food allergies known to affect children. In the same percentile ranges as milk, the allergic reaction to the egg can be limited directly to either the yoke or the white, and can include both. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) noted that one in 17 children under three years of age experience some sort of food allergy.

The allergic reactions to eggs are similar to those of milk allergies and include, hives, flushing, rash, swelling around the face and eyes.

The other common foods which cause can present allergic reactions in children include legumes such as soy, lentils, various beans; peanuts, including jarred peanut butter as well as products containing peanut oil or hydrogenised peanuts or pastes and certain grains, which include wheat and oats.

Up to the age of 12 months, your child should be limited to breast milk or formula, in lieu of cow's milk and follow the advice of your pediatrician for the proper time lines for introducing solids such as cereals and fruits.

As you introduce these new foods one by one, there is a period of time for monitoring how your child reacts to these new foods making it much easier to determine if there is some sort of reaction to a particular food or food group.

From one to three years of age, you should be cautious not to introduce too many new foods at once until you can determine that no food allergies are present. There is nothing worse that trying to figure out which item off of that buffet table caused your toddler to swell up like a balloon, or to have an upset stomach.

There is more information available on the web regarding food allergies and proper introduction of foods to children on Kaiser Permanente and Facey Medical Groups websites.