If your child is getting hives and a stomachache after eating certain foods, she might have a food allergy. Children are prone to food allergies due to their immature digestive and immune systems. The most common foods that cause allergic reactions are milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, seafood and soy, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Contact your pediatrician if you suspect your child has a food allergy because it can be life-threatening.
Causes
Food allergy is a result of an immune system reaction to a food protein. Your child's immune system reacts to the foreign protein by making allergy-producing immunoglobulin E, or IgE, antibodies. The IgE antibodies trigger a further reaction that leads to the release of histamine. Histamine is responsible for the symptoms associated with allergic reaction. Over-the-counter antihistamines can be used to treat mild symptoms of food allergy.
Symptoms
If your child is allergic to a food ingredient, all foods that contain the ingredient can cause an allergic reaction. Hives and stomach pain are common symptoms of food allergy, according to the PubMed Health. Hives is a skin rash associated with itching and swollen, raised areas of the skin, also known as welts. Hives can also occur in the throat, causing swelling and breathing difficulties. Other possible symptoms of allergy include wheezing, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, itching of the mouth and throat and nausea.
Prevention
The first step in preventing an allergic reaction is to diagnose what foods your child is allergic to and then prevent these foods in your child's diet. This can be tricky since many foods contain many of the allergenic ingredients and many of them are children's favorites. For example, ice cream and pudding can contain milk, eggs and nuts, while bread and baked goods can contain wheat, milk, eggs, nuts and soy. Avoid all foods that have been manufactured in a factory that handles the allergenic food due to cross-contamination. Checking food labels are essential in preventing allergic reaction.
Considerations
Breastfeeding or not introducing allergy-causing foods to your young children may help prevent development of food allergies, according to the PubMed Health. Children usually outgrow milk, soy and wheat allergies by the age of 5, while seafood and nut allergies are more likely to be lifelong. In severe cases, allergic reaction can lead to anaphylactic shock that can be fatal. If your child is experiencing breathing difficulties, rapid pulse or loss of consciousness after eating an allergenic food, immediately take her to the emergency room.
