Allergen introduction baby food

A Step By Step Guide – Forbes Health

Introducing a food to your baby that might cause an allergic reaction can be, understandably, nerve-wracking. However, research shows that introducing major allergens like peanuts, dairy, eggs and even fish into your child’s diet sooner rather than later can have an impact on their likelihood of developing food allergies. This is especially true for babies that are at a higher risk for developing food allergies due to eczema or a family history of such allergies. In most infants, risk rises in delaying the introduction of foods that commonly cause allergies.

But when it comes to introducing allergens to your baby, which should you introduce, and how should you go about doing it? We’ll give you the full rundown, as well as advice on potential warning signs to look out for and tips to make the introduction of allergens to your baby a safer experience.

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Why Should I Introduce Allergens to My Baby?

The early introduction of food allergens to babies is tied to efforts to reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions, which is defined by the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology as occurring “when the immune system overreacts to a harmless substance known as an allergen. ”

When it comes to peanut allergies—which affect up to 2% of children and can be serious and lifelong—the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends infants with the highest risk of developing food allergies (generally those with eczema, a family history of food allergies or an existing food allergy) be introduced to peanut protein between the ages of 4 and 6 months^[1]New Guidelines Detail Use of ‘Infant-Safe’ Peanut To Prevent Allergy. American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed 09/28/2022. . This is a notable reversal from the AAP’s 2000 guidance, in which it recommended delaying the introduction of peanut for high-risk infants until 3 years of age.

Indeed, 2021 research suggests that introduction of highly allergenic foods—such as peanut and egg—at 4 to 6 months of age may lower the risk of a child developing food allergies, particularly for children at high risk for food allergies^[2]Yakaboski E, Robinson LB, Arroyo A, Espinola JA, Geller RJ, Sullivan AF, Rudders SA, Camargo CA. Early Introduction of Food Allergens and Risk of Developing Food Allergy. Nutrients. 2021;13(7):2318. . In other words, delaying the introduction of highly allergenic foods to your child could increase their risk of developing an allergy.

In general, pediatricians often recommend introducing major allergens to all babies at around 4 to 6 months of age, with the goal of introducing as many as possible by age 1.

Experts note that the immune system is protein specific, and learns from each food individually. Therefore, you help protect against the development of a peanut allergy by routinely feeding your baby peanut—but this won’t protect against other foods. This is why experts recommend being intentional about introducing and maintaining a diverse set of foods—including allergens like dairy, egg, fish and soy—in your baby’s diet throughout infancy and toddlerhood, when the immune system is most open to learning.

While early introduction may contribute to a decreased chance of the development of food allergies, David Fleischer, M.D., director of the Allergy and Immunology Center and section head of allergy and immunology at Children’s Hospital Colorado, cautions against early introduction being seen as “the end-all-be-all that can prevent everything.”

“We’ve seen many families that do all the things you say to do and aren’t high risk, and they still have food allergies. So there’s probably a multi-factorial way [of preventing food allergies], and this is just one thing that we think will help,” says Dr. Fleischer, describing early allergen introduction as just “one aspect of food allergy prevention.”

When Should I Introduce Allergens to My Baby—and How?

Before you introduce allergens to your baby, you first want to ensure that they are developmentally ready to start eating solid foods, which usually occurs around 6 months. Signs of readiness include:

Shows curiosity and interest in food by watching you eat
Adequate head and neck control
Ability to sit up alone or with support
Opening the mouth when food is offered
Swallowing food, rather than pushing it back out

Once you’ve determined that your child seems ready for solids, you’ll want to first introduce other foods, such as cereal or something mashed, to further assess readiness, explains Malika Gupta, M. D., a board-certified allergist and immunologist. After your child tolerates a few less allergenic foods, then you can begin the introduction of highly allergenic foods. If your child is considered high-risk for food allergies—either due to having eczema or a family history of food allergies—Dr. Gupta suggests that parents may want to talk to their pediatrician prior to introduction to get further guidance on introducing these foods and to know what to look out for when doing so.

There is no particular order in which parents should introduce highly allergenic foods, says Dr. Fleischer. The only allergenic food to avoid before age 1 is cow’s milk, due to its low absorbable iron content, though dairy products like cheese and yogurt are permissible.

When introducing an allergen for the first time, Dr. Gupta advises doing so at home and when one to two adults are able to focus their attention on the child. It’s also suggested to introduce one allergenic food at a time, so parents can more easily suss out reactions, and then to wait two to three days before introducing another highly allergenic food.

To introduce peanuts into their baby’s diet, for example, parents might melt down peanut butter with water and add it to a fruit or vegetable puree their baby likes. With eggs, parents might try scrambled eggs or some small pieces of boiled eggs.

As for the question of how much of the allergen to introduce and how often to feed it to your baby, Dr. Fleischer says there isn’t currently clear data. “I think we try to stress not a set amount and number of days because we want the introduction of these allergens to be a natural introduction, just like you would introduce other foods,” he says. “There are guidelines that say once you introduce it, try to keep it in their diet to some amount, but there’s no defined amount for each food.”

He also advises parents not to stress about getting in every highly allergenic food immediately, though aim for introduction before age 1. “Not everything is going to be given at 4 to 6 months of age. It’s a progression of things, where the scrambled egg is just a different texture that they might not tolerate until the meat stage of things,” says Dr. Fleischer.

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Which Allergens Should I Introduce?

While most studies on early allergen introduction have focused on peanuts and eggs, the recommendation has since extended to other foods that are considered highly allergenic, says Dr. Gupta.

The AAP states that there’s “no reason to delay giving your baby foods that are thought of as allergens.” Per the AAP, approximately 90% of food allergies are attributable to the following eight allergens^[3]AAP Clinical Report Highlights Early Introduction of Peanut-based Foods to Prevent Allergies. American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed 09/13/2022. :

Cow’s milk
Eggs
Fish
Crustacean shellfish
Tree nuts
Peanuts
Wheat
Soybeans

With the exception of cow’s milk, which the AAP suggests waiting until 1 year to introduce, (though other dairy products like yogurt and cheese are allowable), you can add the other allergens listed above to your baby’s diet as they begin eating solids. The USDA set new guidelines in 2020 that explicitly recommend parents get all of these eight food groups into babies’ diets as early as possible, starting around 4 to 6 months of age.

What Warning Signs Should I Watch for?

Albeit rare, allergic reactions in babies can range from mild to severe. Typically, signs of a reaction will appear within a few minutes to two hours of consuming the allergen for children with an IgE-mediated food allergy, which is an allergy caused by eating common allergenic foods.

As you’re monitoring your child after they’ve tried an allergen for the first time, these are the warning signs to look out for of an IgE-mediated food allergy, according to Children’s Hospital Colorado:

Hives or welts
Swelling of the face, tongue or lips
A rash or flushed skin
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Coughing or wheezing

More serious allergic reactions—and potential warning signs for anaphylaxis or a need for urgent medical care—include:

Hoarseness
Difficulty breathing
A sensation of tightening of the throat
Loss of consciousness

If the reaction appears to be severe—such as if your child seems to be having difficulty breathing, loses consciousness, hoarseness or has two or more symptoms that affect different body systems—you should seek immediate medical attention and call 911.

With non-urgent reactions, parents should contact their pediatrician, who may advise them on administering an antihistamine.

Note that your child can also develop a non-IgE mediated food allergy, which will tend to appear over two hours after your child consumes the food. This type of allergy is known as food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), and it tends to affect the gastrointestinal tract. Common symptoms include:

Vomiting
Bloating
Diarrhea

If you notice these symptoms or suspect your child may be dealing with a non-IgE mediated food allergy, contact your pediatrician or an allergist.

Tips for Safely Introducing Allergens to Your Baby

Ready to have your child test out the major allergens? Here are some expert-provided tips to keep in mind to help ensure a safe introduction, according to Dr. Gupta:

Make sure your child is fully ready for solid foods before introducing allergens. This will make it clear whether their reaction is due to allergies or simply not being developmentally ready.
Only feed your baby a new allergen when they are healthy. If they are already sick, it can be difficult to assess their true reaction.
Ideally, have one to two adults present who can stay focused on the child after they’ve tried a highly allergenic food for the first time.
Watch your infant for about two hours after feeding, as this is the typical length of time during which an allergic reaction will occur. If you notice any changes in symptoms outside of this timeframe, it’s unlikely to be an allergic reaction to a consumed food.
Avoid introducing highly allergenic foods in the evening. You’ll want to ensure you have at least a two-hour window to observe the child.

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What Should I Do If My Baby Is Allergic?

Children who have any sort of an allergic reaction to a food should get referred to an allergist, says Dr. Fleischer, explaining that there are other potential causes for hives and other reactions, such as being sick with a viral infection or consuming acidic foods like tomatoes and some fruits. An allergist can help determine whether a child is truly allergic to the food in question through testing including infant food challenges.

Your provider will give guidance on appropriate next steps to take with your child. In some cases, it may be sufficient to simply avoid the food (and for you to avoid those foods, if you’re breastfeeding), while other children may require an emergency kit with epinephrine in case of severe allergic reactions in the future. Other times, the doctor may advise reintroduction of the food at a certain point to determine if your child has outgrown their allergy.

Per the AAP, up to 90% of allergies to milk, egg, wheat and soy disappear by age 5, though outgrowing nut and seafood allergies is less common^[4]AAP Clinical Report Highlights Early Introduction of Peanut-based Foods to Prevent Allergies. American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed 09/13/2022. .

While introducing your child to allergens can understandably feel intimidating as a parent, it’s an important step to take for your child’s health. And remember, you can always turn to your pediatrician or an allergist for further guidance and support, if needed.

How Ready, Set, Food! Early Allergen Introduction Works

Ready. Set. Food! is the only early allergen introduction system that delivers the right food allergen to your baby at the right time starting at 4 months of age.

TEAR

Each day empty one packet into bottle of breast milk or formula with at least 2 ounces of liquid. Can also mix with food.

MIX

Shake bottle or stir food for 10 seconds. Works best in size 1+ nipples.

EAT

Your baby should drink most of the bottle, but does not need to finish it. If you miss a day simply resume the next day.

Scoop & Pour

Scoop the amount of baby oatmeal your child eats into a bowl. Add breast milk, formula or water.

Stir & Warm

Stir to desired consistency. Serve as is or heat until warm.

FEED & ENJOY

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What is early allergen introduction and why do it?

Early allergen introduction is the process of frequently feeding common allergenic foods, such as peanut or egg, to your baby. The 2020 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other prominent medical associations (NIH, AAP, AAAAI) recommend introducing peanut and egg in the first year of life (after age 4 months), otherwise known as early allergen introduction. This is especially important for babies with eczema who have a 1 in 3 chance of developing food allergies. With Ready. Set. Food!, we make it easy to introduce allergens early and often.

Why is Ready. Set. Food! the best way to introduce allergens?

Ready. Set. Food! is the best option for introducing allergens because we make the process simple. It is important to note that for early allergen introduction parents need to frequently feed allergenic foods such as peanut, egg, and milk to their babies. Parents have found that trying to do this on their own is difficult and time-consuming, which is why we've created Ready. Set. Food! to help make early allergen introduction easy.

When should I start my baby on Ready. Set. Food! and for how long?

The 2020 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other prominent medical associations (NIH, AAP, AAAAI) recommend starting babies as early as 4 months of age with food allergen introduction.

We recommend starting the Stage 1 introduction, and Stage 2 for continued exposure together anytime between 4 - 12 months of age. You should sustain exposure to Stage 2 for at least 6 months.

Stage 3 is designed as the next step from Stage 2, and expands allergen exposure from 3 to 9 allergens including tree nuts, sesame, wheat and soy. However, if your baby hasn't started allergen introduction, but is already eating solid foods, feel free to start with Stage 3. Continue on Stage 3 for at least 6 months.

Feeding foods like peanut, egg, and milk only once or twice is NOT enough. We recommend using Ready. Set. Food!, for at least 6 months, or until your baby is regularly eating the allergens at least 3 times a week. We designed Ready. Set. Food!, to make it safe and easy for parents to not only introduce the allergens, but to sustain exposure as well.

What is Ready. Set. Food! Baby Oatmeal?

Guidelines from the leading medical organizations recommend to feed your baby allergens on a daily basis. Our Baby Oatmeal, now available in a variety of flavors, is a safe and easy solution to help follow the new leading medical guidelines that recommend introducing allergens early and often while giving your child a nutritious and healthy meal. Ready. Set. Food! Baby Oatmeal contains 100% organic milled whole grain oats and includes all of the 9 allergens also found in our Stage 3 Mix-ins:

Peanut, Egg, Milk, Cashew (tree nut), Almond (tree nut), Walnut (tree nut), Sesame, Soy, Wheat

These top allergens account for ~90% of all childhood food allergies and follow recommendations from the USDA Guidelines to "introduce infants to potentially allergenic foods." As parents ourselves, our goal is to make early allergen introduction as simple, mess-free and convenient as possible; our Baby Oatmeal is the perfect solution for busy families.

How do I use Ready. Set. Food!?

Ready. Set. Food! is a guided system to make early allergen introduction safe, easy and convenient. Each daily pre-measured packet mixes easily in a bottle or food. Just shake or stir until dissolved and feed one packet daily.

Stage 1

Stage 1 is the introduction to the top 3 allergens - peanut, egg, milk. Start your baby on Stage 1 as early as 4 months of age. Gradually introduce peanut, egg and milk one at a time for the first 30 days. Mix Stage 1 with breast milk, formula, or food.

Stage 2

Stage 2 - Maintains “early and often” exposure to peanut, egg and milk. Start your baby with Stage 2 if you've already introduced these allergens. It is recommended to sustain exposure for at least 3 - 6 months.

Stage 3

Stage 3 is recommended after finishing Stage 2, and if your little one is consistently eating solids such as applesauce, or cheesy mashed potatoes. Once your baby is consistently eating solids, safely expand from peanut, egg and milk to an additional top 6 allergens for at least another 3 - 6 months. If your baby has never started allergen introduction, and is eating solids already, it is okay to start with Stage 3. Mix Stage 3 with food only.

Stage 1 + 2 Mix-Ins

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Stage 2 Mix-Ins

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Allergy to baby food in a child: nutrition for infants with allergies

Published: 03/16/2017

Reading time: 4 min.

Number of reads: 33015

Author of the article: Ponomareva Yulia Vladimirovna

Pediatrician, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Allergist-Immunologist

Food allergy is one of the most common health problems in a baby in the first year of life. According to statistics, every third child of this age has manifestations of food intolerance. Many parents are concerned about the question of what this condition is connected with and whether it is possible to avoid the development of an allergy to baby food in a baby.

Content: Hide

State of the art
Food allergy
Major allergens
Prevention is easier than cure
Transition period
Where to start?
Complementary cereals in the diet of allergy sufferers
Benefits of industrial baby food

Current state of the problem

In developed countries, there is a steady increase in allergic diseases every year, not only among children, but also among adults. There is no definitive answer about the reason for the increase in the incidence rate, but the role of factors such as living in large metropolitan areas, the distance of a person from nature, and a decrease in infectious load at an early age is being discussed. The immune system of the child, not receiving infectious stimuli, begins to respond to factors that normally do not cause any reactions - food, pollen or pet hair. In most babies at an early age, allergy manifestations are associated with food intolerance. Typically onset is in children over 3 months of age, with peak incidence at 5–9months. Often the first symptoms are associated with the start of the introduction of complementary foods.

Food allergies

Why do babies have so many food allergies? In addition to hereditary predisposition to allergic diseases, the immaturity of the digestive system, early cessation of breastfeeding, and disturbances in the intestinal microbiota play an important role. The introduction of foods with a high allergenic potential into the diet, as a rule, gives rise to the first manifestations of allergies. It is not difficult to diagnose this condition, typical manifestations are itchy skin rashes and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Often there is a causal relationship between rashes and the use of a particular product. Allergy symptoms cause anxiety to the baby, disrupt his sleep and quality of life. And the lack of adequate timely treatment increases the risk of further development of respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.

Major allergens

Almost any food can cause an allergic reaction, but in 90% of cases only a few allergens are responsible for this condition: cow's milk, chicken eggs, wheat, fish and seafood, soy, tree nuts (peanuts are the most common among them). ). Heat treatment does not lead to a decrease in allergenicity, therefore the most effective method of treatment is to completely eliminate the causative product from the baby's diet. Allergy to several products at once occurs quite rarely, but you need to be aware of the possibility of cross-reactions. So, a baby with an allergy to cow's milk protein has a high risk of reactions to the milk of other mammals and beef, with intolerance to a chicken egg, a reaction to chicken meat is likely, and intolerance to other gluten-containing cereals is possible with a reaction to wheat protein. Cow's milk protein is the most common cause of food allergies, so mothers should follow a strict dairy-free diet if their child develops an intolerance. If the baby is bottle-fed, special therapeutic mixtures are recommended in the diet, which are based on the most split milk protein. In addition to the exclusion of dairy products, the timing of the introduction of other strong food allergens - chicken eggs and fish, is being postponed, these products are used in the menu of children older than a year.

Prevention is easier than cure

Is it possible to avoid developing allergies to baby food? Indeed, this disease is better to prevent than to cure. Of course, the presence of allergic diseases in the immediate family determines the risk of developing allergies in the child. Therefore, parents at the earliest stages should take care of the prevention of this condition. Modern experts do not recommend a special diet for mom during pregnancy. Her diet should be complete and varied as much as possible, in reasonable quantities she can eat various foods, including unconditional allergens. The baby, even in the womb, begins to get acquainted with the whole variety of food. Unnecessary use of antibiotics during pregnancy should be avoided and, when planning a mode of delivery, only cesarean delivery should be considered when absolutely necessary. These factors play an important role in disrupting the development of the gut microbiota, which in turn increases the risk of allergic reactions. Another key factor is early breastfeeding. If there is a need for artificial feeding or supplementary feeding to a baby at risk of developing allergies, nutrition should be organized on the basis of special preventive mixtures that a specialist can recommend.

Transition period

The next most important step in the prevention of food allergies is the correct introduction of complementary foods. This is a crucial moment in the baby's life, since on the one hand it is necessary to introduce each product with caution, carefully monitoring possible reactions, and giving preference to low-allergenic products. On the other hand, it is wrong to delay the expansion of the diet. It is important to introduce all major food groups in as much variety as possible between 5 and 8 months. This is the corridor for the formation of an adequate response of the immune system to food products, when it is ready to recognize and accept food, which allows a person to eat these products in subsequent years without the risk of allergic reactions.

Where to start?

In infants at risk of developing food allergies, the general recommendations for starting food groups follow the standard approach. That is, complementary foods can be started with vegetables or cereals. Vegetable complementary foods would be preferable in a child with functional digestive disorders with a tendency to stool retention. Low-allergenic green and white vegetables such as squash, cauliflower, and broccoli are good choices. The first vegetable complementary foods should not contain salt, sugar and prepared without adding milk. In other cases, in children with food allergies or the risk of their occurrence, cereals are the best option for starting complementary foods. Why cereals? Under the conditions of compliance with a hypoallergenic diet by the mother and forced restrictions on the child's diet, cereals, as a source of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, significantly increase the nutritional, biological and energy value of the diet.

Complementary cereals in the diet of allergy sufferers

Can a child with an allergy or a predisposition to develop it have any porridge? Of course, not any. Dairy-free and gluten-free products are introduced as the first cereal food. Whole cow's milk, due to the high risk of food intolerance, is excluded from the diet of this group of children at least until the end of the first year of life. Accordingly, porridge is prepared on the basis of mother's milk, a specialized mixture or baby water without the addition of salt and sugar. Gluten-free cereals include buckwheat, rice and corn. How to cook porridge based on mother's milk in order to preserve all the valuable biological substances? Cooking is certainly detrimental to the protective antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and beneficial bacteria found in breast milk. Therefore, the best solution is to use commercially produced instant cereals for baby food. Mother's milk or a specialized formula can be heated in a water bath to 40 ° C, add the dry part in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and quickly get a ready-to-eat meal, preserving all the most valuable for the baby's health.

Benefits of industrial baby food

In addition to being quick and easy to prepare, modern industrial baby food meets high quality and environmental standards. The Bebi Premium product line "Porridges for the first feeding" is a good choice for babies with food allergies or a predisposition to them. It is preferable to start with a subgroup of low-allergenic cereals from this line. They fully comply with all the conditions for introducing cereal complementary foods to babies with food allergies. A distinctive feature of these products is an enriched composition, including prebiotics and the most important vitamins and minerals for this age. Prebiotics support the gut's own microbiota, which play a significant role in causing allergies. By the 6th month of life, vitamins and minerals are already supplied in insufficient quantities with mother's milk, especially in the conditions of the mother's hypoallergenic diet, so their guaranteed intake with complementary foods is a reliable prevention of deficient conditions in the baby.

#Nutrition for allergies

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Baby food and allergies in children: a reminder for parents

Updated: 12/15/2022

The global medical community is sounding the alarm, as about a third of children living in large cities today are prone to allergic reactions, and in 10 years, Allergies are predicted to affect almost the entire child population of metropolitan areas. In recent years in Moscow, according to some statistics, the annual increase in young patients suffering from its symptoms is about 7-8%.

Changes in diet and the risk of allergic reactions

A well-known study by the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) has shown that breast milk is the best nutritional option for a baby in the first six months of life. Complementary foods (i.e., any food other than breast milk or infant formula) should not be introduced until 17 weeks.

Most experts believe that the introduction of foods that are potential allergens into the baby's diet should begin after a year. For example, it is recommended to introduce only the yolk from 7 months, and postpone the acquaintance of the crumbs with egg white until 12 months.

Food Allergies and the 4 Day Wait Rule

Many baby nutrition experts recommend the 4 Day Wait Rule when introducing solid foods to your baby's diet and introducing new foods. It lies in the fact that the child receives one product as complementary foods, starting with one teaspoon. Its amount in the diet gradually increases over 4 days. If during this time no undesirable reactions from the skin, mucous membranes, respiratory organs, digestive system were observed, another product can be introduced.

For example, they start complementary foods with squash puree. If within 4 days the baby, in whose menu zucchini appeared, does not have a food allergy to this vegetable, cauliflower is introduced and the reaction of the child's body is observed for another 4 days. Only after this time, if there were no manifestations of any pathological symptoms, the crumb menu can be diversified with a new product.

When a new food is introduced into a baby's diet over several days, it is easier to determine exactly how the baby reacts to a particular food. It is especially important to adhere to the 4 day wait rule if there is a family history of allergies or food intolerances.

By following this rule and introducing new products one at a time, it is easier to avoid allergic manifestations. If parents or other caregivers suspect that the child is having adverse reactions to a new diet, it may be possible to simply eliminate certain foods.

We recommend introducing new foods into your baby's diet in the morning or early afternoon. If an allergy occurs, this will allow you to immediately get an appointment with a pediatrician who observes the child, so that the doctor clarifies the diagnosis, conducts an additional diagnostic examination if necessary, prescribes therapy and gives treatment and preventive recommendations.

Allergic reaction or food intolerance?

Remember that a food intolerance is not a food allergy and its symptoms are usually limited to intestinal problems.

The body's immune system is involved in the development of food allergies.

Any allergic reaction occurs in response to some danger. The body reacts by releasing antibodies called immunoglobulins E (IgE). These, in turn, cause the body to produce a chemical known as histamine.

When histamine is released, the body reacts with pathological symptoms:

runny nose;
pain in the eyes;
skin rash;
itching, etc.

In severe cases, anaphylaxis may develop.

Food intolerance does not imply participation in pathological reactions of the immune system. And it often happens that the food that caused a negative reaction of the body is easily tolerated by the human body at another time. Citrus fruits are a good example of this.

Citrus fruits may cause food intolerance in children due to the high acidity of the fruit. Often in children whose diet is introduced oranges under the age of 1 year, there is a rash around the mouth or in the lower part of the body, bloating, colic. An adult child can tolerate these products well, even if in infancy he had pathological reactions to citrus fruits from the gastrointestinal tract or rashes and other pathological symptoms on the skin.

Another food that often causes food intolerance is lactose. The body of people who suffer from lactose intolerance does not produce or produces insufficient amounts of a specific enzyme, lactase. It helps to digest milk sugar (lactose). In adulthood, according to official statistics, this violation is registered in almost 18% of Russian citizens. But according to some unofficial data, there are much more Russians suffering from food intolerance to milk sugar.

In some regions of Southeast Asia, the proportion of people with food intolerance to lactose among the adult population is up to 100%.

However, the gastrointestinal tract of many infants with lactose intolerance can easily digest fermented milk products (eg yogurt, cheese), in which bacterial cultures have already processed milk sugar.

Dairy-associated allergy develops in response to cow's milk protein, casein, and not to lactose.

How to recognize an allergic reaction in a child

Some common symptoms may indicate that a child has an allergic reaction to certain foods or a food intolerance. Parents should contact their pediatrician if, after eating a new food, the baby experiences:

vomiting;
diarrhea;
skin rashes;
runny nose;
irritability and/or bloating;
respiratory problems;
swelling of the face, lips and/or tongue.

The problem of allergies is especially relevant for young children. According to statistics, every fourth child in Russia has a predisposition to the development of this chronic disease, among them 20-30% are children under one year old. In most cases, the disease manifests itself in the form of manifestations on the skin, reaching its peak at the age of 6-12 months.

In most cases, the cause of an allergic reaction in a child's body is proteins contained in foods. It is upon contact with the allergen protein that the human immune system stimulates the production of histamine, thereby trying to neutralize it. As a rule, the reaction occurs within 30 minutes after the allergen enters the body.

For the attention of parents, we provide a list of products containing protein fractions. This is especially true for those adults who themselves have a hypersensitive reaction to food stimuli. It has been scientifically proven that the risk of an allergy in a child is 20-40% if one of the parents suffers from it, and 50-70% if both are allergic. So, the "big eight" is: