Food allergy symptoms in children are a parent’s worst nightmare.

As a mother, I am so thankful that my son doesn’t seem to have any food allergy symptoms.  None of us want our kids to experience that difficulty. It’s one of the top 3 things we pray we avoid when we become parents.

When you first become a parent, these days you start looking out for signs of food allergies in your child right away. That way you can do something about it, sooner rather than later. You may even want to consider taking him for food allergy testing, especially if there’s a family history.

Why am I taking this issue seriously, you may ask?

I am serious about it because food allergy symptoms are nothing to joke or toy with.

I read the sad story of Elijah Silvera, aged 3 years, who died on November 3, 2017, as a result of being fed grilled cheese sandwich by an adult at his pre-kindergarten. And he was given it even after it was fully documented that Elijah has a severe allergy to dairy.

Poor Elijah went into anaphylactic shock and was taken to the hospital where they were unable to save him. I shudder at the thought of what the parents went through and are still going through at the loss of their little boy.

This could have been anyone’s child, I thought to myself.

And the parents surely did the right thing by providing the pre-kindergarten with information about Elijah’s dairy allergy.

If this could happen to parents who already knew about their child’s allergy, what about a parent that does not know that the child suffers from food allergy?

Knowing that your child has a food allergy could save their life.

What is food allergy?

In simple words, food allergy is when someone reacts to a particular class or type of food. It is a common disease in kids.

Some food allergy symptoms could be swelling of the hands, face, stomach or other parts of the body.  Other symptoms include joint pain, breathlessness, or stomach aches. Or you could see hives, skin irritation and rashes. And some kids might get diarrhea and constipation, and overall body pain among other symptoms.

How can you detect it in your child?

It is very common to notice food allergy in babies as well as food allergy in children.

If after eating any particular type of food and minutes later your child starts reacting in any of the ways mentioned above, it could be that your child has food allergy. There are different types of food allergies. The popular culprits of food allergies are peanut and other nuts, sesame, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, and wheat (gluten).

What to do if your child develops food allergy symptoms?

Obviously, if your child is sick, you take him to the hospital or doctor to get checked out. The same thing happens when your child displays food allergy symptoms.

You may be asked some questions about what he ate or drank. And he may be subjected to food allergy testing to find out what he is reacting to. Some medication to help may probably be provided as well.

If you have already been given some medication, it’s okay to resort to food allergy treatment by yourself should the need arise again, especially at home.

5 ways to cope with a child with a food allergy

Speak to your child’s doctor

It is important that you speak to your child’s doctor about which food your child should avoid instead of making the decision yourself. There are some nutrients that are very vital to your child’s development. And if he is allergic to the common foods that contain those nutrients, your doctor will advise as to alternatives.

If the reaction to the food is not that serious, it could be something your child will outgrow as he ages. In that case, his doctor will be in a position to advise you on what to do.

Make sure your child knows which foods to look out for

Once you discover the foods your child reacts to, the next thing is to make your child aware of such foods. It helps to start preparing him to avoid such foods especially if they could throw him into anaphylactic shock.

If he reacts to dairy, teach him to always ask his caregiver at school if the snack he is about to be fed with is dairy-free or not. The same thing applies to other foods he has allergy for.

What you are doing here is empowering him to take the initiative for his health for the times when you are not there to guide him.

Eliminate allergy-causing foods in the home

To avoid exposing your child to foods that he is allergic to, it is safer to make sure that such foods are not found in the home. This also means that the whole family will have to adapt to eating only foods that are safe for your child.

Watch out for social gatherings

It is very common to find foods that your child is allergic to at parties and other social gatherings. Sometimes you can just go to the park and see a litter of peanut shells. And that may trigger reactions in your child if not handled carefully.

Some parents have ruled out social gatherings for their kids who are allergic to certain foods for fear of being exposed to such foods. But you can actually pack your child’s food from home and still allow him have fun with other kids.

Educate the teachers and caregivers

With the case of Elijah Silvera, it is obvious that one can never be too careful or too persistent. If your child has food allergies, please do well to drum it in the ear of your child’s teachers and caregivers possibly on daily basis. You may appear to be overprotective, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Do you have a child with food allergy? Or is your child experiencing food allergy rash and food allergy symptoms? I would love to know how you are handling the child or the food allergy treatment you are using in the comment section below.

Like this? Pin it!