Food Allergies on the Rise Among Children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that food allergies among children are on the rise. Children with food allergies have increased 18% in the past decade. The reason for this increase is still unclear. Therefore, food allergy precautions need to be taken seriously.

When our son Ethan was born he was constantly vomiting and never slept more than forty-five minutes. We saw six different pediatricians and they all said he was colic and I was worrying too much. When Ethan was three months old he had blood in his stool. This is the classic sign of a milk protein allergy. Although he was strictly breastfed, the dairy I was eating was making him sick. I quickly put him on a hypoallergenic formula and within days he was no longer vomiting and finally started to sleep. By thirteen months Ethan grew out of his allergy and now consumes milk and dairy products just fine.

On the other hand, my adorable nephew Jackson gave us all a terrible scare several months ago. When he was about eight months old my sister-in-law gave him a taste of a desert that contained milk. Within minutes his face swelled up and 911 had to be called. Thankfully he is OK but cannot eat anything with milk or eggs. My brother and sister-in-law have to carry an EpiPen at all times just in case he is exposed to milk by accident. Hopefully Jackson will out grew his allergy. He is likely to since 90% of children will out grow milk and egg allergies whereas only 10% to 20% will out grow nut allergies.

Both experiences have brought the seriousness of food allergies to my family’s attention. It is vital that other families take precautions when introducing their child to foods commonly associated with allergic reactions. These foods are milk, eggs, nuts, soy and wheat, and fish. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics a child should avoid peanut butter until three years of age and whole milk until one year of age. Following these simple recommendations may save your child’s life.

When exposing your child to foods most associated with allergies there are several signs of an allergic reaction to watch for. Hives, difficulty breathing or asthma symptoms, swelling of the mouth or throat, vomiting and diarrhea, and loss consciousness are all signs of an allergic reaction. These signs can appear within minutes or hours. Call 911 or your health care provider immediately if you believe your child is having an allergic reaction.