PREVENTING ALLERGIES IN
CHILDREN
Preventing allergies in children is an
investment which can pay-off in long-term protection of health. Anyone who suffers
from even occasional allergies will want to do as much as they can to save
their child from the discomfort, inconvenience, expense and loss of freedom
associated with allergic reactions.
Allergies tend to run in families, indicating a
strong genetic component. However, there is also scientific evidence that
certain environmental factors can make a person more likely to become
allergic, and that environmental controls may lessen the symptoms of allergies
even in long-time sufferers.
Food allergies are often the first to appear in
young children. Research has shown that careful control of an infant's diet
and environment may minimize the number of foods a child becomes allergic too.
The limiting of food allergies will have a positive effect on the overall
quality of life of a child destined to be allergic. The following principles
can help to limit the development of food allergies.
FAMILY HISTORY OF ALLERGIES IS IMPORTANT IN
DETERMINING THE BEST WAY TO FEED YOUR BABY.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first few months of life, and
continued
breastfeeding during the first year have been shown to reduce the incidence
of allergies in children. If there is a history of any type of allergy in
your family or in the family of the baby's father, you should strongly
consider breastfeeding. As a rule of thumb, there is a 25% chance of any
child having allergies. That risk rises to 50% if one parent has allergies,
and to 75% if both parents are allergic.
MATERNAL DIET DURING PREGNANCY MAY SENSITIZE
INFANT TO CERTAIN HIGHLY ALLERGENIC FOODS.
If there is a strong history of allergy in your family, you may want to
avoid highly allergenic foods such as dairy products, eggs, fish, pork, wheat, citrus,
peanuts and strawberries during your pregnancy. Be sure to discuss
appropriate substitutes with your doctor or nutritionist, to avoid
protein, mineral and vitamin deficiencies. The research on
the effectiveness of this step is not conclusive. Therefore, it is only
recommended for those who are willing and able to closely self-monitor their
diet to assure compliance and adequate nutrient intake.
BREASTFEEDING HELPS TO LIMIT ALL TYPES OF
ALLERGIES, NOT JUST FOOD ALLERGIES.
PROPER SELECTION OF INFANT FORMULA CAN HELP TO
LIMIT ALLERGIES, BOTH IN BREASTFED AND BOTTLE FED BABIES.
All babies
that are not breastfed should be fed a commercially prepared formula,
rather than a homemade cow's milk based formula. Most babies with
no family history of allergy will do well on regular formula.
Babies with a moderate family history of allergies may be started on
soy-based formula to avoid the development of milk allergy (however,
allergies to soy are also possible). Babies with a family history
of severe allergies should be given a hydrolyzed protein formula such as
Nutramigen if breastfeeding is not an option.
Breastfed babies
are best fed only breastmilk, using properly refrigerated expressed milk
for any bottle feedings. If a supplemental formula is needed
occasionally, the best choice is a hydrolyzed protein formula such as
Nutramigen.
YOUR DIET WHILE NURSING CAN AFFECT YOUR BABY'S
HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR.
Sensitivity to foods in your diet may result in colic,
irritability and other signs of allergy in your baby. Putting yourself on a strict
elimination diet for a few days, will help to determine if something you are
eating is the culprit.
Many substances in your diet will pass through your breastmilk to the baby. You should
avoid all alcohol, caffeine, and chocolate. Foods which prove "gassy" to you may
or may not bother your baby. Careful observation should help you to determine your
baby's sensitivity to foods such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower or beans in your diet.
EARLY INTRODUCTION OF SOLIDS INCREASES THE
LIKELIHOOD OF ALLERGY TO COMMON FOODS USUALLY CONSIDERED HYPOALLERGENIC.
Regardless of family allergy history, a young infant's intestinal walls actually have "holes" which allow large protein molecules
to pass undigested into the blood stream. This can result in the development of allergies
to foods which would not have triggered an allergic reaction if they had not been
introduced until the age of 5 or 6 months when the intestinal wall matures
(For example: Rice and bananas generally do not cause allergies in
most children. However, babies given rice or bananas in the first
months of life have a high incidence of allergy to these foods.)
PROPER TIMING OF FOOD INTRODUCTIONS CAN LIMIT
THE NUMBER OF FOOD ALLERGIES.
Babies should receive no food other than breastmilk or formula until they are at least 5 to 6
months of age. (This includes fruit juices, baby cereals, dairy products).
RECOMMENDED AGES FOR INTRODUCTION OF ALLERGENIC
FOODS
These recommendations are for children with
average risk of allergies. Ages should be increased if there is a strong
family history of serious allergies.
These allergenic foods should be removed from the diet for a few weeks if
gastrointestinal infections or other food intolerances occur, as these
conditions increase the permeability of the intestinal walls allowing food
proteins to enter the bloodstream
FOOD ALLERGIES ARE MADE MORE SEVERE BY
ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGIES, AND VICE VERSA.
The severity of allergic symptoms is affected by the number of allergens present at
one time. Therefore, using a HEPA air-cleaner in your home could help your child's food
allergies. Likewise, eliminating the foods your child is allergic to, may help to
his or her reaction to environmental allergies.
NOT ALL REACTIONS TO FOODS ARE TRUE FOOD
ALLERGIES.
(Details to be added)
FOOD ADDITIVES ARE SOMETIMES THE CULPRIT RATHER
THAN THE FOOD ITSELF.
(Details to be added)
BOOSTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN HELP TO LESSEN
ALLERGIC REACTIONS.
(Details to be added)
ANTIBIOTICS IN FOODS MAY LEAD TO ALLERGIC
REACTIONS.
(Details to be added)
FOOD ALLERGIES AND FOOD SENSITIVITIES CAN CAUSE
BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN SOME CHILDREN.
(Details to be added)
A STRICT ELIMINATION DIET CAN BE AN INEXPENSIVE
AND EFFECTIVE WAY OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT FOOD INTOLERANCES ARE CAUSING
A SPECIFIC HEALTH PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS METHOD CANNOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
TRUE ALLERGIC
REACTIONS AND OTHER FOOD INTOLERANCES.
(Details to be added)
GASTROINTESTINAL INFECTIONS MAY INCREASE THE
LIKELIHOOD OF FOOD ALLERGIES
Gastrointestinal infections can temporarily increase the permeability of the intestinal
wall, making it easier for allergenic substances to pass into the bloodstream and cause
sensitization. Therefore, allergenic foods should be avoided during and
for a few days following such infections.
ALLERGIES CAN CAUSE MANY SEEMINGLY UNRELATED
SYMPTOMS.
The list below contains some common "classic" symptoms of allergy as well as some
extremely rare symptoms. Symptoms should always be reported to, and discussed with,
your physician. Only careful observation by you, and differential diagnosis
by your physician, can determine the actual cause of listed symptoms.
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF FOOD ALLERGIES
