: How to Detect Allergies when Introducing new Foods to your Baby
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(401 Words)
Food allergies can be very serious, and you will want to be able to recognize them so that they can be addressed with your pediatrician. Some parents who have not experienced food allergies before may be confused as to the symptoms. The following are some indicators of a food allergy. The child may experience one of these symptoms or they may experience all of them at once.
Skin issues
Skin problems are one of the most common indicators of food allergies. They may get hives, red bumps that look like bites from mosquitoes. They may also get itchy skin rashes. You may see your baby trying to swipe at their skin. They may also look pale. Some babies will get swelling when they are having an allergy attack.
Stomach problems
A lot of babies have stomach problems as the result of an allergy. They may throw up. They may have diarrhea. Sometimes they will get bad diaper rash when the responsible food passes out through them and touches their skin again.
Difficulty breathing and other severe symptoms
In more severe cases, allergies can lead to difficulty breathing. You may hear the child wheezing. Their throat may be tight. If you think that your child is having trouble breathing, then call 911 to get help immediately. Also, in extreme cases your child seem light-headed or could lose consciousness.
With all of the discomforts, the only way your baby might be able to tell you is by crying. They may be cranky. They may have difficulty sleeping or act out of character.
Remember that each allergy is different, and some might not show symptoms until they have had the food repeatedly. They may have no reaction one day, a small reaction the next time they have it and a severe reaction the third time that they have it. Oftentimes the symptoms show up right after they have had the food, but it does not have to be the case. Many doctors recommend that babies are only introduced to one food at a time when they are first starting solid food and that each food be given for three or more days in a row so that you will have more time to detect an allergy. If you think that your baby has an allergy to a food you may want to discontinue its use and call your pediatrician for further instructions.
Source:
http://www.healthychildren.org/english/healthy-living/nutrition/pages/Food-Allergies-in-Children.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token
Updated On: 08/02/2010 Published On: 08/02/2010 Article ViewerClose
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