According to data from the Spanish Society of Clinical Immunology, Allergology and Pediatric Asthma (SEICAP), between 4% and 8% of school-age children in Spain have one or more food allergies. Among all the allergies that can occur during the first of life, food allergy is one of the most common and those that can cause anaphylaxis.
We share you which ones with the most common food allergies in babies and children.
What is a food allergy?
The Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEPED) defines food allergy as: "a harmful reaction triggered by a food, which occurs because the immune system of allergic patients overreacts to a food that is usually well tolerated by other people".
This type of allergy is more common in children and usually occurs the first time certain foods are consumed, and manifests with skin symptoms such as hives and swelling, with digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea, as well as respiratory symptoms such as acute rhinitis or difficulty breathing.
It is important to know the symptoms of an allergic reaction caused by food, which usually occur immediately when there is one, in order to act according to the severity of the reaction that is manifesting.
There are certain foods that usually appear frequently when it comes to a food reaction, so we share the seven most common food allergies in babies and children.
Allergy to cow's milk
Milk allergy It is the most common food allergy in babies and according to information from the AEPED, it is manifested regularly during the first year of life, when breast milk is replaced by an adapted formula of cow's milk.
Symptoms may appear immediately or may appear within the next hour after drinking the milk and include: urticaria or atopic dermatitis, respiratory problems such as asthma or rhinitis, conjunctivitis, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and anaphylaxis. Cow's milk allergy is diagnosed by detecting specific immunoglobulin E against milk and its proteins, through skin tests and blood tests.
Egg Allergy
Egg allergy It is the most common allergy in young children, and usually appears the first time you eat the egg white, which produces more allergy than the yolk, because the amount of protein it contains is higher.
As in the case of milk allergy, the symptoms of an egg allergy usually appear immediately or within the next hour after eating the food. They can be mild, from itchy mouth or throat, accompanied by red spots around the mouth, or more severe such as vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath and anaphylaxis.
Fish allergy
It is the third most common allergy in young children, and usually appears during the first or second year of life. You can have an allergy to a single type of fish, a family of fish or all fish in general. Unlike milk or egg allergy, fish allergy can last for decades or a lifetime.
The symptoms of fish allergy usually appear immediately or within the next hour after consuming it. Some of them may be the appearance of itchy mouth or pharynx, with or without redness or hives around the mouth, as well as swelling of the lips, eyelids or ears. Vomiting, diarrhea or some respiratory involvement are also possible symptoms, although rare.
Allergy to nuts
Nut allergy usually appears in older children, and after 3 or 4 years of age it is one of the most frequent food allergies. The most frequent allergy nuts are peanuts, nuts, almonds and hazelnuts, mainly because they are the most consumed.
When you are allergic to nuts it is very important to check food labels, as many may contain pieces or be one of the ingredients that is not observed with the naked eye.
Some symptoms of nut allergy include: hives throughout the body, inflammation in the throat and tongue, conjunctivitis, or respiratory and digestive problems, as well as anaphylaxis.
Seafood Allergy
Shellfish allergy is different from fish allergy because they are different foods, and it is separated into three groups of seafood: crustaceans (prawns, crayfish, crabs and the like), cephalopods (squid, sepia or octopus) and shell mollusks (mussels, clams and the like). That someone is allergic to shellfish does not necessarily mean that they also have a fish allergy or vice versa, although there are cases in which both allergies occur.
The allergy between each group of shellfish is usually independent, and it is even possible that you have an allergy to only one of a certain group and that the others can be consumed normally, although it is advisable to avoid the entire group equally.
Symptoms of shellfish allergy include: cough, shortness of breath, inflammation, hives, throat tightness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and anaphylaxis.
Allergy to cereals
In addition to celiac disease, which is gluten intolerance and that is caused by a protein present in cereals such as wheat, rye, barley and oats, cereals can cause allergy.
Cereal allergy can occur in front of a single cereal, several or all. In the event that a child has an allergy to oatmeal, attention should also be paid to hygiene products, since this is often used in soaps and creams.
The symptoms of cereal allergy are similar to most other food allergies, such as hives, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath and anaphylaxis.
Legume Allergy
Legumes are those plants whose fruits are enclosed in pods, and includes lentils, soybeans, chickpeas, beans, peas and peanuts, although the latter are considered as nuts when we talk about food allergies.
Legume allergy is common in childhood, but in most cases it disappears in adult life. As in the case of nuts, it is important that if you are allergic to soybeans, carefully check the labels of the food consumed.
The symptoms of a food reaction by legumes include: itching in the mouth, lips, tongue or pharynx, respiratory problems, vomiting or anaphylaxis, although in the case of legumes it is unlikely that the latter will happen.
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More information | Spanish Association of Pediatrics - In Family
In Babies and more | The most frequent allergies in children, Symptoms of food allergies in children
