Children with food allergies exhibit an allergic reaction whenever they are exposed to those foods. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 12 million people in the United States suffer from food allergies, and this number includes millions of kids. Milk and eggs are two of the most common allergens that can trigger an allergic reaction in children.
What Are Allergies?
In general, allergies result from the body overreacting to the presence of an allergen, a substance that can trigger an allergic response. When the body first encounters an allergen, it identifies it as foreign substance, or as an invader to the body. As a result, the body's immune system produces a protein called IgE, which has a "radar" for that specific antigen. When the body encounters the antigen again, IgE binds to certain cells and stimulates the release of histamine, the main protein that causes the symptoms of the allergic reaction. In the case of children with food allergies, IgE increases when the child consumes the foods, like milk and eggs, which trigger the allergic response.
Symptoms
The symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from mild to severe and life threatening. According to MedlinePlus, symptoms of a mild allergic reaction include hives and other rashes, uncontrollable itchiness, nasal congestion, and watery eyes. Children with food allergies can also exhibit tingling around the mouth, swelling of the tongue and lips, wheezing and trouble breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Treatment and Prevention
The best prevention is to avoid the foods, like milk and eggs, which trigger an allergic reaction in your child. The treatment for an allergic reaction includes over- the-counter antihistamines, which can block the effects of histamine in the allergic response; and epinephrine, which can be injected, for the treatment of a severe allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction, which can occur with food allergies and other allergic responses. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology states that the symptoms of anaphylaxis include flushing of the face, lightheadedness, loss of consciousness, severe breathing difficulty with a feeling of your throat closing in on itself, and abdominal cramps with vomiting and diarrhea. This can progress to a severe drop in blood pressure that can lead to shock and death.
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