You tried out a new shrimp recipe at dinner, and your daughter suddenly became sick without warning. After realizing she may not have tried shellfish before, you wonder if she could have a food allergy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 3 million American children and teenagers under age 18 are reported to have food or digestive allergies, which commonly include sensitivity to peanuts, milk, eggs, soy, tree nuts, wheat, shellfish and fish. With food allergies on the rise, it’s normal to worry when your child reacts negatively to a particular food. However, needlessly avoiding certain foods without first gaining a professional opinion can do more harm than good to your child.
Always ask a Professional
“Self diagnosis and removal of certain foods from a child’s diet without being evaluated by an allergist can result in malnutrition in extreme cases,” says Leonard Bacharier, MD, clinical director of pediatric allergy, immunology and pulmonary medicine at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “In addition, blood tests are not always accurate in determining food allergies and misdiagnoses do occur, so it’s important to keep a history of food reactions when seeking help from an allergist.”
Currently, there is some debate among experts as to the potential harm in delaying the introduction of highly allergenic foods to children, such as increased sensitivity.
“Because children are growing and need all the nutrition they can get, it’s important to verify allergies before you eliminate food groups,” says Tara Todd, registered dietitian at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “The same goes for infants. Fussiness and spitting up at mealtimes don’t necessarily indicate a milk allergy. Making that diagnosis yourself or switching formula brands too quickly could potentially be harmful for your baby.”
What You Need to Know
When questioning if your child is having an allergic response to food or just an upset tummy, look for a singular, immediate reaction or a combination of symptoms such as:
- difficulty swallowing
- hives
- itching
- rash
- redness around the mouth
- respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, wheezing and shortness of breath
- swelling
If these symptoms occur, seek medical attention at St. Louis Children’s Hospital or the nearest emergency room.
For more information about food allergies, call 314.454.KIDS (5437) or 800.678.KIDS.