Food Allergies in Childhood

When food is taken into our body, if the food cannot be tolerated, undesirable symptoms occur against food. These symptoms are called food reaction or food allergy. The abnormal response in the body is called a food reaction.

• What is a food allergy?

we call all of them as food allergies.

• What are the most common food allergies in our country?

 In our country, food allergies to milk, eggs, sesame and food allergies develop most frequently.

• Why is food allergies important?

One of every 13 children in the United States (USA) consults a doctor with a complaint of food allergy. A substantial portion of them develop anaphylaxis associated with food allergy. Again, in the USA, these complaints come to the emergency room every few minutes. In the last 15 years, the incidence of food allergies has increased by 50%. That's why food allergies are so important. It is important to leave a healthy, safe world to our children and to prevent allergies for their future.

• Which organs are most commonly affected by food allergies?

 Food allergy most commonly affects the skin (60%), digestive system (50-60%) and respiratory system (20%).

• How do food allergies occur?

 Reaction to food occurs with the body's immune system. Food allergies are divided into 3 types: IgE-mediated, non-IgE-mediated (non-IgE) or both (mixed) types. Genetic, environmental, nutritional habits-excessive hygiene can trigger allergies. Food allergies related to IgE are seen in 5-15% of children, and non-IgE-mediated food allergies are seen in 0.16-17% of children.

• How long after food intake do symptoms develop?

Allergic symptoms occur early and late after food intake.

    IgE mediated ones develop between a few minutes and two hours. Non-IgE-mediated ones can also occur as late as two weeks after food intake.

• What are the findings suggestive of food allergy in children within the first month of life?

Findings suggestive of food allergy in the first months of life, in order of frequency; It can develop in the form of the digestive system, skin and respiratory system.

• The findings in food allergies can be summarized as follows;

Irritability, crying for unknown reasons, *recurrent nappy rash in the breech area, *colic in the first month of life,

eczema in the first month of life, urticaria (hives) after food intake, skin redness, swelling ready food *constipation,

diarrhea, presence of punctate or linear blood on it with mucus (slimy, sticky) stool in the first months of life,

refusal to feed,

persistent vomiting in the first month of life,

reflux disease unresponsive to treatment,

growth and development retardation,

*runny nose, wheezing, cough ,

*anaphylaxis developing 1-2 hours after food intake can be counted as shock.

• Food allergy tests always give a positive response Does it give? Blood tests and skin tests are often not positive. Positive skin and blood tests alone are not enough. Positive specific tests in the blood only indicate sensitization. As the value increases, the probability of clinical reaction increases. Skin tests should be evaluated together with clinical signs.

  • How is the diagnosis of food allergy made in a newborn baby?

   Proctocolitis (i.e. mucus, punctate pus on the stool) In a baby with specific blood), first removing the ALLERGEN food, which is my question from the diet, for 2-4 weeks, after the symptoms disappear; The diagnosis can be made by adding the food responsible for the allergy again and observing the symptoms to occur. If the symptoms occur between 1-14 days when the responsible ALLERGEN food is added to the diet, the reason is the food added to this diet. If symptoms do not occur, it is a different ALLERGENIC food or cause.

  • If ALLERGEN food is found, products containing the responsible food are excluded from the diet of the mother and baby. A strict diet for six months is done under the control of a doctor. If milk protein allergy is considered and the baby is taking breast milk. During this period, calcium-rich foods are added to the mother's diet. Medicine containing calcium is added to the mother.

  • If the baby is fed with formula; Depending on the clinical course, partial hydrolyzed or fully hydrolyzed formula should be given.

  • Complementary feeding should be started at the time, and food recipes should be prepared by experienced physicians.

  • While starting the diet, the responsible food is gradually added to the diet in the form of a stair step. In case of milk and egg allergies, baked goods are added to the diet first. If the baby receives breast milk, it is added step by step to the mother's diet and then to the baby's diet. Thus, possible allergic reactions can be observed better, and the diet will be opened under the control of a doctor

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