Complications
In rare cases, an allergic reaction can be life-threatening.
Called an anaphylactic reaction or anaphylaxis, this severe and rapid allergic reaction generally affects more than one part of the body. The condition quickly becomes life-threatening, if treatment is not started quickly.
The initial symptoms are often itching and a burning or tingling feeling in the mouth, lips and throat. In addition, there may be facial swelling around the eyes, mouth and lips, which often is followed by a generalized rash all over in the form of hives. The mucous membranes in the mouth and throat may swell, so that the person has difficulty swallowing and breathing.
Anaphylaxis can also affect the circulation, and the child's skin can become pale, cold and sweaty. The pulse increases as blood pressure falls, and the child will be in danger of fainting. Other symptoms of anaphylaxis are stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and extreme tiredness (lethargy).
Call your physician or 911 immediately if your child has food allergies and suddenly develops difficulty breathing or any symptom suggesting anaphylaxis.
Milk allergy and milk intolerance
Milk is one of the common foods that may cause symptoms in children, due to allergy or intolerance.
Some children are allergic to the protein in cow's milk. With this allergy, eating or drinking foods that contain even a tiny amount of cow's milk protein can produce severe symptoms. The treatment consists of a cow's milk-free diet. Most infants with milk allergy can tolerate soy formula but some need a special "hypoallergenic" formula that contains pre-digested proteins.
Toddlers and older children with milk allergy usually can drink calcium-fortified soy, rice, or goat's milk, though some children are also allergic to soy. Many children with milk allergy will outgrow it.
In milk protein intolerance, the child does not technically develop an allergy, but has similar symptoms when drinking milk, including abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Babies with milk protein intolerance may have fussiness with feeds and mucousy or blood-streaked stools. This can even happen in a breast-fed baby, when the baby's mother drinks cow's milk, because the protein passes through the breast milk. Children with milk protein intolerance often outgrow this problem. The best treatment is to avoid milk as much as possible. A dangerous reaction, such as anaphylaxis, does not occur with milk intolerance, since it is not an allergy.
Some children cannot digest lactose, which is a sugar found in milk. This condition, called lactose intolerance, also is not an allergy. It is an inability to digest milk due to lack of an enzyme needed to break down lactose.
Lactose intolerance can cause loose stools, abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting, and poor weight gain. Lactose intolerance is rare in babies; it tends to run in families and to develop as children get older.
In many cases, the diagnosis of lactose intolerance can be made by keeping a diary of your child's diet and symptoms.
If there is any doubt, your physician may recommend that your child have a lactose tolerance test, in which the breath is analyzed after drinking a lactose solution. If your child is lactose intolerant, he or she will be able to drink lactose-free milk, available in most grocery stores.
Older children can tolerate dairy products by taking enzyme supplements such as Lactaid before eating or drinking the food. Some children with lactose intolerance outgrow the condition; for others, it is a life-long condition.
Egg allergy
In egg allergy, the child develops an allergic reaction to egg protein (albumin), which is found in egg whites.
Symptoms usually occur a few hours after eating egg products. The most common symptoms include rash, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and respiratory symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing and breathing problems. In severe cases, anaphylaxis may occur.
The diagnosis can usually be made by history but may be confirmed by a skin test. Most children outgrow their egg allergy, but sometimes it can persist.
Children who have had an anaphylactic reaction to eggs should be provided with an EpiPen, which is an auto injector containing epinephrine (adrenaline). This medication should be injected immediately after any allergic symptoms begin, in order to slow the allergic reaction and help protect the airway. After using the Epipen, the child should be transported immediately to an Emergency Room for evaluation and further treatment.
It is important to know that some foods may contain egg protein and, as a parent of the child with an egg allergy, you have to learn which foods the child should not eat.
Nut allergy
Peanut and other nut allergies are common in children, and in contrast to milk and egg allergies, generally will not improve with age.
With nut allergies, symptoms often develop quickly and can lead to a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening condition requiring emergency medical assistance.
Nut allergy usually is diagnosed by history, but can be confirmed by taking a skin test or sometimes by a provocation test, where the child is given nuts and monitored for an allergic reaction. Testing a child for a possible nut allergy by giving the child nuts must only be done under close medical supervision at a hospital because it may cause a severe allergic reaction.
The best treatment for nut allergies is to teach the child to avoid foods that may contain nuts.
It is important to read food labels, and be careful in restaurants, especially Chinese restaurants that cook with peanut oil.
Children who have had severe reactions to nuts should be provided with an EpiPen, which is an auto injector containing epinephrine (adrenaline). This medication should be injected immediately after symptoms begin to slow the allergic reaction and help protect the airway.
After administration of an Epipen, the child should be transported immediately to an emergency facility for evaluation and further treatment.
