1. Detecting Food Allergy in Children
Your baby taking his/her first bite- it really is a moment to cherish but also a vital moment as if your
baby is allergic to foods then he/she might break into itchy rashes or have diarrhea. Things like this are a
big concern for parents but in a way it is good for the child as the earlier allergy is diagnosed the better
are the chances of preventing it in the future and avoid unnecessary problems.
It is a fact that a lot of children have allergy to different types of food. Herbert Steinheuer, a child
specialist working in the field of allergy in Germany says that knowing the exact number of children
affected by food allergy is hard as there are not many reliable studies carried out, although it is
estimated that 2% to 7 % of all children have food allergies.
Usually if a child is allergic to food he/she will show signs of it within the first two years. Children are
prone to more risks as they react very quickly to allergies. Symptoms such as breaking of hives, itchiness
and swelling in the mouth, shortness of breath and in severe cases can lead to anaphylactic shock.
Allergy symptoms indicate that the baby’s immune system is reacting to the particular food; it is
identifying the food as an allergen and reacting against it. Usually protein based foods such as cow's
milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, fish and soya cause allergic reaction in kids. Nut allergy should be paid more
attention as in recent years there have been a growing number of kids complaining of it; moreover nut
allergy is very serious and can quickly become life threatening. Avoiding the relevant food items is the
only way to prevent allergy attacks.

2. But it has been seen that at times avoiding the relevant food item can be demanding on other family
members and substitutes can be expensive. So before avoiding any food item just on grounds of
suspicion it is recommended that parents consult with an allergy specialist and conduct a food allergy
test on their child. In case of adults the prick test is used but in babies there are hardly any large areas of
skin available to conduct the test so a blood test measuring the amount of IgE antibodies is generally
preferred. Once the particular food allergen has been identified doctor’s advice on the constituents of
daily diet becomes essential.