Your baby will gradually begin a solid food diet, which will eventually become their primary nourishment source. It is good to know about the food allergies in babies before you introduce them to new foods or start giving them solid food. The most common food allergies in children include milk, peanuts, or eggs. Thus, it is important to know whether or not your baby is allergic to a particular food to prevent unwanted complications. Read on to know about the causes, signs, and symptoms of food allergies in babies, their diagnosis, treatment, and preventative measures.
Why Does A Food Allergy Occur?
Food allergy happens when the body’s immune system mistakes food to be a pathogen and mounts an attack (1). It results in symptoms that are similar to disease but are actually caused by the faulty response of the immune system. The mistaken identity is the result of certain chemical reactions in the body. Let’s take a look at how this happens.
What Causes Food Allergies In Babies?
The causes for food allergies are not fully known, but researchers believe that they develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Ingested food is processed by the stomach from where it moves to the small intestine. Here the food encounters the immune system’s cells present within the intestinal lining. The food protein is incorrectly detected as a foreign substance (antigen), and the immune system releases a counter chemical (antibody). A complex reaction between the antigen and antibody forms the chemical histamine, which reacts with the body tissue leading to visible external symptoms that we know as the food allergy. Peanuts and eggs are two of the most common food allergens. If the baby is allergic to one food, then they are likely to be allergic to other related food items too. This phenomenon is called cross-reactivity (2). For example, if your baby is allergic to chamomile, then chances are that they could be allergic to milk thistle too.
What Are The High Allergy Foods For Babies?
Certain foods are responsible for the most common allergies in infants. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the following food groups account for 90% of mild to severe food allergic reactions:
Milk (from any animal source; breastmilk is safe) Eggs Fish Crustacean shellfish (such as prawns and crabs) Wheat Soy Peanuts
Tree nuts (such as walnut and hazelnut)
These are the top allergenic foods for babies while seeds such as sesame and mustard, and even chocolate are potential allergens. The baby is more susceptible to food allergies under certain conditions.
What Are The Risk Factors For Food Allergy In Babies?
The chances of food allergy in the baby increase in the following situations (3):
What Are The Symptoms Of Food Allergy In Babies?
An infant with food allergy is likely to display these signs: Hives are often itchy and cause discomfort to the little one. They can last for hours depending on whether the baby is given medication or not. Even a mild food allergy can lead to hives. Unlike popular belief, constipation and fever are not the symptoms of food allergy (7). A food allergy may manifest within a few seconds or after several minutes. In some rare cases, the baby might have a delayed reaction after four to six hours or even longer. One such delayed reaction is food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). This gastrointestinal reaction mostly occurs in young infants two to six hours after having milk, soy, grains, and a few other solid foods (8). Severe food allergies in babies can lead to high-intensity symptoms. Such a state is called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. Following are the symptoms of anaphylaxis:
Tightening and narrowing of nasal respiratory tract
Swollen neck muscles that put pressure on the windpipe
Increase in heartbeat followed by sudden drop in blood pressure
Dizziness and partial unconsciousness
Blue coloration of skin and nails
Reddish or deep brown stools due to the presence of blood (9)
Blood could appear in the stools in severe cases of food allergy and when the baby has other allergic conditions such as eczema. Anaphylaxis occurs in four out of ten cases of food allergies in infants (10). Take the infant to the doctor when you see the signs of food allergy.
How Is Food Allergy In Babies Diagnosed?
The doctor will study the symptoms and learn more about the baby’s medical history. Parents would be asked about the diet of the infant. The doctor might perform the following allergy tests on the baby (11): The above tests are usually conducted together to pinpoint the allergenic food item. Skin tests are safe and not a matter of concern. However, if the infant has repeated anaphylaxis or allergic conditions such as eczema and asthma then the doctor might conduct only the blood test and elimination of a food test.
How Is Food Allergy In Babies Treated?
There is no definite baby food allergy treatment as there is no cure for food allergies (12). Tackling the symptoms helps provide relief, and there are two ways of doing it:
How To Manage Food Allergies In Babies?
Managing your baby’s food allergy is simple and usually involves a few steps:
Choose hypoallergenic baby food: A hypoallergenic formula is recommended by the pediatrician when the baby is allergic to cow’s milk and relies only on formula for nourishment. Babies with cow milk allergy are usually allergic to soy as well, and thus cannot be given soy formula. Hypoallergenic formula could be a choice as it is made from hydrolyzed proteins, which are simpler amino acids that do not trigger allergic reactions (13).
Avoiding food items with allergen derivatives: A cracker could contain soy flour while a pudding may contain egg. Allergens could be hiding in any food and parents should double check the ingredients before feeding it to the baby. Such prudence is necessary for older infants who can eat a variety of solid foods.
Check vaccines before immunization: Most vaccines are safe for the baby, but a few such as influenza (flu) and yellow fever vaccines are derived from egg proteins – a common allergen (14). Yellow fever is not part of the usual immunization schedule of the baby, but influenza is widely recommended. Parents must discuss with the doctor about flu vaccine before going ahead with it. A non-egg protein version of the vaccine may be used. It could be expensive, but completely safe for the baby with egg allergy.
When managed correctly, allergies pose no hindrance to the baby’s healthy growth and development. You can reduce the chances of food allergy in babies.
How To Prevent Food Allergies In Babies?
There is no definite way of preventing food allergies since they happen spontaneously. Nevertheless, you can try the below: Note: Delaying the introduction of foods may increase your baby’s risk of developing allergies.
Unlike a food allergy, food intolerance does not involve the immune system, and is also called food sensitivity and non-allergic hypersensitivity (21). Example of a food intolerance is lactose intolerance, which is different from a milk allergy. Food intolerance is more common yet less severe than food allergies.
