Food Allergies in Babies and Toddlers

Signs, Symptoms, Prevention and Management

By Shannon McKelden

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, up to 8 percent of children in the United States are estimated to have food allergies. As allergic reactions to foods rise, parents must be informed about signs and symptoms, as well as foods that are potential allergens.

Food allergies show themselves in two ways. "People are most familiar with immediate-type reactions such as hives (look like mosquito bites) that typically develop minutes after a food is eaten," says Dr. Scott H. Sicherer, author of Understanding and Managing Your Child's Food Allergies (Johns Hopkins Press, 2006)."Other immediate symptoms could include flares of itchy rashes, vomiting, swelling of lips/face [and] coughing, among other symptoms."

Severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis, a sudden whole-body reaction usually identified with wheezing, swelling of face, lips or tongue and difficulty breathing, are life-threatening and require immediately contacting 911.

Food allergies can also cause or contribute to some chronic problems. "[These include] widespread itchy skin rashes of atopic dermatitis or gut problems like persistent vomiting, diarrhea and poor growth," Dr. Sicherer says.

While many foods can cause allergic reactions, some are more common than others.

According to Dr. Sicherer, "major allergens" account for 85 to 90 percent of food allergy in children. "These are milk, egg, peanut, soy, wheat, tree nuts (e.g., cashew, walnut, etc.), fish and shellfish," he says. According to Dr. Sicherer, 85 percent of children outgrow allergies to foods like egg, milk, wheat and soy by age 5, but only 20 percent of children outgrow a peanut allergy.

Allergies to peanut, nuts and seafood are also the allergies that are more often "severe." "However, it is possible to have a 'severe' egg or milk allergy as well," Dr. Sicherer says.

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