If your child has a food allergy, she's not alone--the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology estimates that approximately 6 percent of young children have some type of food allergy. A food allergy occurs when your child's immune system incorrectly identifies certain food products--called allergens--as harmful to her body. Discuss the food allergy symptoms in children with your child's pediatrician or allergist to ensure that your child receives appropriate treatment and care.
Oral Itching
If your child has a food allergy, he may initially complain that his mouth or tongue feels itchy or uncomfortable after ingesting the food allergen. Oral itching symptoms can arise within minutes following exposure to a food allergen. Young children may attempt to scratch at the tongue, cheeks or lips to alleviate itching. You may also notice that your child's lips or tongue appear abnormally enlarged or swollen after he consumes a food allergen.
Skin Rash
Infants and young children with food allergies often develop a skin rash across the body if exposed to food allergens, explains the Merck Manual, an online medical encyclopedia for health professionals. The skin rash can appear as patches of red, swollen welts (hives) or dry, scaly lesions (eczema) and can cover your child's entire body. Your child may complain that her skin hurts, or you may notice that she frequently scratches at the affected skin region.
Stomach Upset
After ingesting a food allergen, your child can begin to complain that her tummy hurts or that she doesn't feel well due to symptoms of nausea, stomach cramping or vomiting. She may need to go to the bathroom or have her diaper changed more frequently due to diarrhea. Symptoms of stomach upset caused by a food allergy can occur within an hour after your child consumes a food allergen, explain health professionals at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.
Difficulty Breathing
Your child can begin to have breathing difficulties after consuming a food allergen. Swelling of the mouth or throat can constrict your child's breathing passageways, leading to symptoms such as wheezing or shortness of breath. These food allergy symptoms can cause your child to feel dizzy or lightheaded and can lead to loss of consciousness. Seek immediate emergency medical care for your child if he develops any type of breathing difficulties.
