Food allergies can cause serious and sometimes even fatal reactions in any individual. In adults, most people are aware of their allergies and know how to avoid certain foods to prevent reactions, however, children can’t know about food allergies if they have never tried certain foods before. Luckily, there are Jax pediatricians at Pediatric Care Centers that can help parents and guardians learn about food allergies in children and how to deal with them.
What Are Food Allergies
Food allergies are the body’s adverse reaction to certain foods. This occurs when the body’s defense system activates antibodies in response to certain foods and releases histamines. This reaction is a response that impacts the immune system, unlike food intolerances. These histamines lead to reactions such as hives, trouble breathing, stomach pain, asthma, itching, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. The severity of symptoms can vary from mild discomfort to severe reactions that can become life-threatening when left untreated.
Common Food Allergies
There are several forms of food allergies that can cause a variety of reactions from mild to severe. A child can react to any food, however, most allergic reactions come from the following foods:
● milk
● eggs
● peanuts
● soy
● wheat
● tree nuts
● fish
● shellfish
● sesame
How To Spot Food Allergies
In children, food allergies do not always appear when the child first tries a food. They can develop on the second or third try – sometimes even later, as the child grows and develops. When a child does experience an allergic reaction, they can experience a variety of symptoms such as the following:
● wheezing
● trouble breathing
● congestion and sneezing
● strange taste
● coughing
● hoarseness
● throat tightness
● stomach pain
● vomiting
● diarrhea
● itchy, watery, or swollen eyes
● itching around the mouth or ears
● hives
● red spots
● swelling
● a drop in blood pressure, causing lightheadedness or passing out
What To Do If Your Child Has An Allergic Reaction
If your child is having what appears to be a severe allergic reaction, call 911 and you should get to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. Some allergic reactions can be life-threatening when left untreated. There is no medical treatment available that can prevent food allergies. However, there are things that you can do to avoid them. You can avoid the foods that cause the reaction and antihistamines can reduce symptoms and in some cases, a doctor may recommend carrying an EpiPen for emergencies.
Food Allergy Testing
If you are concerned that your child has allergies, you can look for a “pediatrician near to me” to find the best pediatrician in Jacksonville FL to test your child for food allergies. There are a few different types of tests that can be conducted to determine if your child has a sensitivity or allergy to certain foods. These tests include skin prick tests, blood tests, or food challenge tests.
Visit Pediatric Care Centers
The Jax Pediatricians at Pediatric Care Centers are some of the best pediatricians in Jacksonville FL and they are open 24 hours a day to help treat your child’s every need. Our goal is to help children avoid going to the emergency room by providing round-the-clock care.
