Photo courtesy of babystepz.com
Today food allergies are becoming more and more common among Americans. According to a study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011. The number of American children under the age of 18 that experience food allergies is 1 out of every 13.
Once your baby is old enough to begin eating solid foods, which is typically around 6 months, you may begin to notice signs of a food allergy. As a parent it is important to be aware of the signs of food allergies so that you can prevent your child from having a severe allergic reaction.
Here is a list of signs and symptoms often caused by food allergies or intolerance:
(Courtesy of EarthsBest.com)
- Runny nose (with clear secretions), watery eyes, seasonal sneezing and wheezing
- Chronic cough
- Circles under eyes
- Frequent colds and/or ear infections
- Frequent skin rashes, such as eczema or hives
- Night coughs and a stuffy nose in the morning
- Diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating
- Lots of intestinal gas
- Fatigue, behavior problems, headaches
If you are an adult who suffers from food allergies you may already be familiar with the signs and symptoms as well as the more common foods that cause allergic reactions.
However, here are some of the most common food allergens for you to be aware of when you begin to feed your child solid foods.
- Egg whites
- Citrus fruits
- Tomatoes
- Yeast
- Wheat
- Berries
- Nuts
- Chocolates
- Shellfish
In order to prevent an allergic reaction from happening you should be cautious if and when you choose to feed these particular foods to your child. If you are concerned that your child may have a certain food allergy then it is wise to wait until your child is at least one year old before introducing the more common food allergens. If you do choose to begin introducing those foods into your child’s diet then you should introduce those foods individually in order to identify the exact food that may have caused an allergic reaction. If you find that your child is allergic to a particular food then the only way to prevent an allergic reaction from occurring is to strictly avoid that food.
To read more about babies and food allergies check out this website.
