Tackling Food Allergies in Children

Experiencing an allergic reaction due to the contents of certain foods is very common in both adults and children. In the United States alone, it is reported that more than 2 million children suffer from food allergies. Certain food allergies can produce allergic reactions so severe that they can be considered deadly. A majority of (food) allergy sufferers are allergic to peanut products. It is also common for children to be allergic to milk, milk products such as eggs, cream, wheat products, nuts, and seafood.

The allergic reaction that is experienced by your child's is caused when your immune system provides antibodies to fight what it thinks is a harmful organisms. In reality, this harmful organism is simply the food your child has adjusted. Normally, these antibodies are used to ward off disease caused by a host of unhealthy organisms (viruses, bacteria, etc.). In allergy sufferers, the immune system produces an abundance of mast cells in response to the ingestion of a certain food. These mast cells release chemicals in the bloodstream such as histamines. As we all know, histamines affect multiple systems within the body and are commonly associated with a runny nose, scratchy throat, and watery eyes. When a person ingests medications such as Benadryl, they are taking anti-histamine which is designed to block the body's reaction.

Unfortunately the quantity of histamines (and other chemicals) produced can have a varied effect on the body's organs. A condition known as anaphylaxis can cause swelling of the throat, tongue, and ultimately stop one's heart. Patients suffer from allergic reactions to this severe usually are told to be prepared to inject themselves with a special pen designed to dispense a large amount of epinephrine. Epinephrine is dispensed directly into the body via injection as it works to directly stimulate the cardiac muscle which increases the strength of ventricular contraction. When used to fight anaphylactic shock, epinephrine works to stimulate the alpha and beta-1 adrenergic receptors.

Determination of your child's food allergies can usually be performed by virginal practitioner in any series of scheduled office visits. Your child can be subjected to a number of possibly offending foods to determine the body's reaction. This is usually only necessary once you have noticed symptoms that could be attributed to a food allergy. Maintaining a comprehensive list of foods and places that use food your child is allergic to is paramount. It may now is the obvious but there are times when a food can be prepared on the same surface as a number of others, one in which your child may even be allergic to. In certain situations it may be appropriate to ask the staff of a particular restaurant how their food is prepared, even in detail.

References:

http://www.mongabay.com/health