How to treat food allergy rash in babies
Does My Baby Have a Food Allergy Rash? — Prevent Food Allergies
Managing Food Allergies
Written By Jannie Huang
Do you think your baby’s rash may be caused by a food allergy? Let’s look at how to identify and treat a food allergy rash.
What is a Food Allergy Rash?
A food allergy rash is a rash that is caused by an overreaction of our immune systems to a particular food. Our immune systems are there to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other invasions that can cause sickness. As is the case with other types of allergies, a food allergy occurs when the body reacts to an otherwise harmless item, wreaking havoc in our systems. With food allergies, the IgE antibodies overreact to a particular food(s), and a rash is often the first symptom to form.
How do IgE Antibodies Cause a Rash?
IgE antibodies detect the food and release histamine into the bloodstream to offer protection from the otherwise harmless food. In the process, blood vessels widen and release fluid which causes inflammation under the skin. A raised rash is the result, leaving the baby uncomfortable and the parents wondering what caused it and where to go from here.
Identifying a Food Allergy Rash
One of the most common signs your baby may have a food allergy is a rash that appears shortly after eating the offending food. It is often the first symptom to appear, the most common symptom of a food allergy, and can appear anywhere on the skin.
A food allergy often presents itself in the form of hives. Food allergy rashes often are concentrated in a couple areas on the body but can spread to other areas, especially in the case of a more severe food allergy. The individual bumps are often small in size, but they cluster together to form larger areas that may look like one larger rash.
In some cases, a food allergy can cause the skin to become red and inflamed without actually causing an actual raised rash.
Food allergies can also cause eczema to become worse. Though worsening eczema is not a rash, it is important to watch this type of symptom closely since it is often associated with food allergies.
Though a rash may be the only symptom, one of the best ways to identify food allergy rashes is to pay attention to other signs that might accompany them. These signs will almost always occur within a few hours of eating the food. If you notice any of the following symptoms, along with a rash, contact your doctor to help determine if a food allergy might be the cause.
Mild Food Allergy Symptoms
Nausea and vomiting
Swelling
Sneezing
Congestion
Stomach pain
Itchy, watery eyes
Coughing
Worsening eczema
Swelling of the tongue
Tightness of the throat
Coughing
Wheezing
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Paleness of skin
Fainting
Rapid heartbeat
Loss of consciousness
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylactic reactions are rare in babies under the age of one, but it is good to be aware of the symptoms.
Anaphylaxis is a swift, intense allergic reaction that is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your child, seek medical help right away:
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Swelling of the tongue
Widespread hives, covering a large part of the body
Wheezing
Pale appearance
Fainting
Rapid heartbeat
Persistent coughing
How to Treat a Food Allergy Rash
A food allergy rash actually doesn’t last very long, oftentimes clearing up in less than 48 hours. It is important to keep track of what your baby ate prior to the rash forming so that you can revisit your list should another rash appear later. You may also want to start a food journal and continue to keep track of what your child eats in the coming weeks and months. This can help you determine if there are other allergies.
Even though rashes often go away on their own, they can be itchy and uncomfortable. Thankfully, there are some things that can provide relief.
Treating a Mild Food Allergy Rash
If your baby has a small rash that is confined to one area of his body and you suspect it was caused by food, you are most likely dealing with a mild food allergy. One of the best ways to treat a rash is with an antihistamine. Antihistamines block the histamine response, which helps clear up the rash. Be sure to ask your doctor about types and dosage before administering antihistamines to your baby.
You can also apply hydrocortisone cream to the area which will help relieve the itchiness. Hydrocortisone cream will not cause the rash to go away but can provide some relief.
Continue to monitor your baby in case the mild reaction turns severe.
Treating a Severe Food Allergy Rash
If your baby develops a widespread rash all over his body shortly after eating, you should call your doctor immediately.
He could be experiencing an allergic reaction that can become life threatening if not treated right away. Continue to monitor your baby as you make your way to your doctor so you can inform the staff of other symptoms.
More About Food Allergies
Food allergies can develop at any time, though it is more rare to develop a food allergy late in life. Usually, they are detected early in childhood, when the child reacts to a certain food. As noted previously, often the first sign of a food allergy is a rash. If you suspect your child has developed a rash as a result of a food allergy, you may want to learn more about allergies and how to proceed safely.
Learn more from the Mayo Clinic on food allergic reactions:
YouTube Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: What happens to your body when you're allergic to food?
Allergies in Children vs in Adults
Both adults and children alike develop food allergies, though what they become allergic to often varies. Children are more likely to be allergic to cow’s milk, eggs, and peanuts, or tree nuts whereas the most common food allergens for adults is shellfish and finned fish.
In either case, both adults and children are likely to develop a rash after eating an offending food.
Peanut and tree nut allergies are more likely to cause serious reactions than the other allergies, but any allergy can become severe at any time.
Getting Tested for Food Allergies
The only way to determine if your child’s rash was caused by a food allergy is to make an appointment to undergo food allergy testing. Once you have talked to your doctor about possible causes for the rash and applied any acute medical care needed, you should make an appointment for your child to get tested for food allergies. There are a few ways this is done. You and your doctor will work together to determine the best testing for your child.
Oral Food Challenge
In this method of diagnosing a food allergy, your doctor will give your baby a small amount of the suspected food and watch him closely to see if he develops an allergic reaction.
An oral food challenge is a safe, accurate method when used under the direct supervision of a doctor. This is the most accurate way to determine a true food allergy.
Skin Prick Test
During this test, your doctor will prick your child’s skin with the suspected allergen and watch to see if a rash develops around the area. Since a food allergy rash is often the first symptom of an allergy, this is a fairly accurate way to see if your child is allergic to a specific food.
Blood Test
When your child undergoes blood testing for allergies, your doctor will check for IgE antibodies in the blood. The presence of these antibodies will indicate an allergy to a specific food or variety of foods.
The Bottom Line
If your child develops a rash shortly after eating, you should take note of the suspected food and stop feeding to your child right away. You may want to start a food journal to monitor your child’s food intake and any potential rashes or other symptoms that might arise.
If the rash is mild and limited to one small part of the child’s body, you can treat it with antihistamines or with topical hydrocortisone cream after first discussing treatment options and dosages with your child’s doctor. If your child develops a major rash that is widespread, you should contact your doctor immediately and watch for signs of anaphylaxis.
Talking to your doctor about the rash is important both in the treatment of the rash and in discovering the cause. If you and your doctor think a food may be the cause of your child’s rash, you should continue to keep the suspected food away from your child and schedule allergy testing. There are a few different tests your doctor may use to determine if your child has a food allergy
Discovering your child has a food allergy can be a scary time for parents, but there are many ways to manage food allergies in children. Learning more about food allergies, their causes, signs, and symptoms, and management are all ways parents can be prepared.
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All health-related content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your own pediatrician in connection with any questions regarding your baby’s health.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
See the FDA Peanut Allergy Qualified Health Claim at the bottom of our homepage.
Jannie Huang
Food Allergies in Children | Johns Hopkins Medicine
What is food allergy?
A food allergy is an abnormal response of the body to a certain food. It is important to know that this is different than a food intolerance, which does not affect the immune system, although some of the same symptoms may be present.
What causes food allergy?
Before having a food allergy reaction, a sensitive child must have been exposed to the food at least once before, or could also be sensitized through breast milk.
It is the second time your child eats the food that the allergic symptoms happen. At that time, when IgE antibodies react with the food, histamines are released, which can cause your child to experience hives, asthma, itching in the mouth, trouble breathing, stomach pains, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
What is the difference between food allergy and food intolerance?
Food allergy causes an immune system response, causing symptoms in your child that range from uncomfortable to life-threatening. Food intolerance does not affect the immune system, although some symptoms may be the same as in food allergy.
What foods most often cause food allergy?
Approximately 90 percent of all food allergies are caused by the following eight foods:
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Milk
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Eggs
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Wheat
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Soy
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Tree nuts
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Peanuts
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Fish
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Shellfish
Eggs, milk, and peanuts are the most common causes of food allergies in children, with wheat, soy, and tree nuts also included.
Peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish commonly cause the most severe reactions. Nearly 5 percent of children under the age of five years have food allergies. From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of reported food allergy increased 18 percent among children under age 18 years. Although most children "outgrow" their allergies, allergy to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish may be lifelong.
What are the symptoms of food allergy?
Allergic symptoms may begin within minutes to an hour after ingesting the food. The following are the most common symptoms of food allergy. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
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Vomiting
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Diarrhea
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Cramps
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Hives
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Swelling
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Eczema
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Itching or swelling of the lips, tongue, or mouth
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Itching or tightness in the throat
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Difficulty breathing
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Wheezing
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Lowered blood pressure
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, it does not take much of the food to cause a severe reaction in highly allergic people.
In fact, as little as 1/44,000 of a peanut kernel can cause an allergic reaction for severely allergic individuals.
The symptoms of food allergy may resemble other problems or medical conditions. Always consult your child's doctor for a diagnosis.
Treatment for food allergy
There is no medication to prevent food allergy. The goal of treatment is to avoid the foods that cause the symptoms. After seeing your child's doctor and finding foods to which your child is allergic, it is very important to avoid these foods and other similar foods in that food group. If you are breastfeeding your child, it is important to avoid foods in your diet to which your child is allergic. Small amounts of the food allergen may be transmitted to your child through your breast milk and cause a reaction.
It is also important to give vitamins and minerals to your child if he or she is unable to eat certain foods. Discuss this with your child's doctor.
For children who have had a severe food reaction, your child's health care provider may prescribe an emergency kit that contains epinephrine, which helps stop the symptoms of severe reactions.
Consult your child's doctor for further information.
Some children, under the direction of his or her health care provider, may be given certain foods again after three to six months to see if he or she has outgrown the allergy. Many allergies may be short-term in children and the food may be tolerated after the age of 3 or 4.
Milk and soy allergy
Allergies to milk and soy are usually seen in infants and young children. Often, these symptoms are unlike the symptoms of other allergies, but, rather, may include the following:
Often, your child's doctor will change your baby's formula to a soy formula or breast milk if it is thought he or she is allergic to milk. If your child has problems with soy formula, your child's health care provider might change him or her to an easily digested hypoallergenic formula.
The symptoms of a milk or soy allergy may resemble other problems or medical conditions. Always consult your child's doctor for a diagnosis.
Prevention of food allergies
The development of food allergies cannot be prevented, but can often be delayed in infants by following these recommendations:
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If possible, breastfeed your infant for the first six months.
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Do not give solid foods until your child is 6 months of age or older.
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Avoid cow's milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, and fish during your child's first year of life.
Dining out with food allergies
If your child has one or more food allergies, dining out can be a challenge. However, it is possible to have a healthy and satisfying dining-out experience; it just takes some preparation and persistence on your part.
The American Dietetics Association offers these tips for dealing with food allergies when your family is eating away from home:
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Know what ingredients are in the foods at the restaurant where you plan to eat.
When possible, obtain a menu from the restaurant ahead of time and review the menu items. -
Let your server know from the beginning about your child's food allergy. He or she should know how each dish is prepared and what ingredients are used. Ask about preparation and ingredients before you order. If your server does not know this information or seems unsure of it, ask to speak to the manager or the chef.
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Avoid buffet-style or family-style service, as there may be cross-contamination of foods from using the same utensils for different dishes.
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Avoid fried foods, as the same oil may be used to fry several different foods.
Another strategy for dining out with food allergies is to give your server or the manager a food allergy card. A food allergy card contains information about the specific items your child is allergic to, along with additional information, such as a reminder to make sure all utensils and equipment used to prepare your meal is thoroughly cleaned prior to use.
You can easily print these cards yourself using a computer and printer. If your child is eating out with friends and you are not going to be present, give your child a food allergy card (or make sure the adult in charge has one) to give to the server.
Alternately, there are several types of allergy cards available on the internet that can be customized with your child's personal information. One example is the Food Allergy Buddy Dining Card, promoted by the National Restaurant Association.
The Food Allergy Initiative, in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, has developed the Food Allergy Training Program for Restaurants and Food Services. This training program was developed to help restaurants and other food service outlets to ensure their customers, including those with food allergies, will receive a safe meal prepared to customer specifications.
Treatment of food allergies in children at the Fantasy Clinic in Moscow
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Other services under Pediatric Allergology and Immunology
- Consultation of a pediatric allergist-immunologist
Frequent calls
- Classes at the Asthma School
- Pollinosis in a child Diagnosis and treatment of pollen allergy
- Bronchial asthma in a child: diagnosis and treatment
- Allergic rhinitis in a child: diagnosis and treatment
- Frequent and long-term illnesses in children
- Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT)
Analyzes and tests
- Diagnosis of allergies by blood
- Diagnosis of drug allergy
- Skin allergy tests for children in the clinic and at home
- Allergotest ALEX2 - complete diagnostics for 300 allergens
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Prevention of food allergies in children
And in the first year of a child's life, food allergies are the most common.
The leading risk factor for the development of allergies in a child is the presence of a burdened heredity in the family. If this is one of the parents, then the chances of getting sick and staying healthy in a child are approximately 50 x 50. At the same time, the likelihood of developing an allergy in a baby is much higher if female relatives are susceptible to it. If both mom and dad suffer from allergies, then the probability of an allergic reaction is already 75%.
A very important risk factor for the development of allergies is also the nutrition of the expectant mother during pregnancy . Excessive enthusiasm for allergenic products (for example, milk and dairy products), even if the mother herself is not allergic to them, can provoke the development of the disease in the baby both immediately after birth and also in the prenatal period.
Allergy manifestations in young children
The main manifestations of allergy in children of the first year of life are dermatitis ( itching, redness, peeling, rash, scratching, dryness or weeping of the skin) and dyspepsia regurgitation, vomiting, loose stools or constipation, increased gas formation, abdominal pain.
The baby becomes restless, naughty, often cries, as it seems, for no reason, eats and sleeps poorly. Very rarely, there may be a cough, the appearance of elements of urticaria on the skin, Quincke's edema - swelling of the eyelids, lips or the entire face, larynx. All these violations most often occur within 24-48 hours after the use of an allergenic product. But often the allergy "accumulates" in the child's body, while he eats food that is not suitable for him day after day. In this case, the disease is delayed and manifests itself within 5-7 days, gradually increasing.
Allergenic products
For children in the first six months of life who are on artificial and mixed feeding, allergens can be cow and goat milk proteins, soy protein (that is, adapted mixtures made on their basis).
Babies, who are receiving complementary foods , and older children may be allergic to other obligate allergens ( citrus fruits, strawberries, strawberries, chicken eggs, fish, seafood and caviar, nuts, honey and other bee products, some spices, chocolate), but also quite ordinary products (chicken, veal, beef, wheat and rye flour, vegetables, buckwheat, etc.
that do not cause hypersensitivity in other children. Currently, food colorings and flavor enhancers are becoming significant allergens , which are added in the industrial production of food and sweets
Food allergy: treatment or prevention?
Allergy is a chronic disease. Of course, allergies, like any other disease, can be treated . At the same time, it is impossible to completely cure allergies, but long-term remission can be achieved. Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor and includes the identification and removal of the causative allergen, diet, the use of antiallergic drugs, active external therapy using various ointments and creams.
However, the best thing to do is to try to prevent the baby from developing food allergies. And you need to start prophylaxis more before pregnancy , having been examined by an allergist at the slightest suspicion of an allergy. Perhaps the expectant mother will need to take special medications that will prepare her immunity for the birth of a baby.
During the period of expectation of the child , it is necessary to avoid not only foods that are unsuitable for the mother, but also to limit any allergenic foods. Today, these include not only traditional citrus fruits and strawberries, but also dairy products, gluten, eggs, fish, soy
Nutrition for mother and baby
After the birth of a baby, the prevention of food allergies consists of several components
When breastfeeding, nutrition of a nursing mother is very important. She should continue to follow the diet and avoid the allergenic foods mentioned above in her diet.
If the child is on artificial or mixed feeding, the following factors must be taken into account when selecting a mixture:
- The bulk of the mixtures are prepared on the basis of whole cow's milk, therefore, in fact, they are obviously ALLERGENIC
- Children at risk for the development of food allergies are prescribed preventive and even therapeutic mixtures in which whole cow protein is subject to partial or complete hydrolysis
- Cow and goat milk proteins are cross-allergic.
