Kids and Food Allergies

What You Need to Know

Food allergies are common, affecting about 6% of children and 2% of adults. However, they are often misunderstood, with some parents restricting their children's diets because they think that they are allergic to everything and others not believing in allergies at all and putting allergic kids at risk by offering them foods that they are allergic to. And even once you understand that your children have a food allergy, it can be hard to avoid the things that they are allergic to as many foods that cause allergies, like milk, eggs, and peanuts, are hidden ingredients in other foods.

What foods most commonly cause allergies?

Although you can be allergic to almost any food, most food allergies are caused by milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish.

Why is my child allergic to everything?

Although it is possible to have an allergy to more than one food, if your doctor has said that your child is 'allergic to everything', then you might get a second opinion from a Pediatric Allergist.

As more parents learn about food allergies, they often ask their doctors to do allergy testing. Unfortunately, although easy to do, these food allergy tests are often difficult to interpret. With the RAST tests which are done on a blood sample, instead of a simple yes or no answer, the results show IgE antibody levels, which many people have in low levels even without an allergy. Typically, only high or very high IgE levels are thought to cause real allergic reactions.

Even with skin testing, a positive result only suggests that the person is allergic to the food. For example, if you test positive for allergies to milk and peanut butter, but have never had an allergic reaction or any typical allergy symptoms, then you likely aren't really allergic to those foods.

When can my kids have allergy tests?

Allergy testing can be done at almost any age. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 'age is no barrier to skin testing; positive results can be obtained at any age.' It is thought that skin testing is not as accurate in children under age 12 months.

Blood allergy tests can also be done in younger children, but they can require a large sample of blood, so you might just ask your doctor to test your child for the things that you are most worried about.

Remember that not all children need allergy testing though. You might try simple avoidance of common things that trigger allergies first.

Can food allergies be prevented?

By avoiding high risk foods, it may be possible to prevent food allergies from ever developing. To prevent high risk children from developing food allergies, such as those who already have food allergies, eczema, hay fever or asthma, or family members with these problems, you should:

• Breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of your baby's life (that means no formula supplements or solid foods) and then continue to breastfeed until your child is at least 12 months old.


• Avoid peanuts and tree nuts while breastfeeding. You may also want to consider avoiding eggs, cow's milk and fish while nursing.


• If you do want to supplement your breastfeeding with formula, use a hypoallergenic formula, such as Nutramigen or Alimentum.


• Do not introduce solid foods to your infant until he is at least six months old, and then start with an iron fortified rice cereal.


• Avoid feeding milk and dairy products until your child is 12 months old.


• Avoid introducing eggs (especially egg whites) until he is 2 years old.


• Avoid peanuts, tree nuts, and fish until he is 3 years old.

Food Allergy Updates

New and Future Food Allergy Developments

Although more is becoming known about food allergies each day, there is still no cure and there are about 150 to 200 deaths annually in the United States from anaphylactic reactions to foods. Also, with all that is known about preventing food allergies, peanut allergies are increasing in children. And most food labels are still confusing and it is not easy to find hidden ingredients in foods that your child might be allergic to.

Will my child outgrow his food allergy?

It depends. Many people believe that allergies to cow's milk and eggs are easily outgrown. One recent study showed that half of infants with an egg allergy outgrew their allergy after 35 months and 66% after 5 years. For other foods, like fish and peanuts, your child is less likely to outgrow the allergy. The type of reaction may also determine if your child outgrows the allergy or not, with more serious reactions being less likely to be outgrown.

What is the new test for food allergies?

You are probably referring to the ImmunoCAP Specific IgE blood test from Pharmacia Diagnostics.

Unlike skin testing, the ImmunoCAP test is done on a blood sample and it provides IgE levels (which may indicate an allergy) for common allergens, like mold, grass, cat or dog dander and many foods. Although most Pediatricians don't do allergy skin testing in the office and that usually requires referral to an allergist, the ImmunoCAP test can be ordered by your Pediatrician.

Why aren't food labels easier to read?

That is a good question. Parents are often left trying to read all of the ingredients to see if they might show something that your child is allergic to. But it isn't easy. For example, if your child is allergic to milk, you will have to avoid foods that list casein, whey, curds, caseinate, ammonium caseinate, potassium caseinate, lactalbumin, and lactoglobulin as an ingredient.

Some companies are providing more helpful food labels, including a statement such as 'Contains' or 'Allergy Information' on the label. For example, many Quaker products list statements like 'Contains Wheat, Soy, Milk and Egg Ingredients' making it easy to spot foods that your child is allergic to. You can show your support to the food manufactures that are voluntarily improving their food labels and ask others to do the same.

New food labeling rules require companies to now plainly list the 8 most common ingredients that trigger allergies on the nutrition label, so avoiding foods that your child is allergic to should now be easier.

Isn't there a new medicine for food allergies?

Clinical trials are being done on a new medication, TNX-901, that decreases the severity of allergic reactions in people allergic to peanuts. It isn't a cure though, and will just decrease your child's chances of having a severe or life threatening reaction after accidently eating peanuts. The downsides are that it is a monthly injection and will likely be fairly expensive. And although originally thought to be about 4 years away, legal battles might delay it from being available even longer.