It is important to share these plans with school, daycare and anyone who cares for your child. (which is epinephrine – a life saving medication to be used in cases of severe reactions) and an Allergy Action Plan which spells out what to do in case of an allergic reaction. We left the allergist’s office with an Epi Pen Jr. In my daughter’s case, we found that she was allergic to most tree nuts, not just walnuts. This will include both a blood test and a skin test. Then, if warranted, she will likely test your child for the suspected allergen as well as those that are related to it. An allergist will likely go over your child’s food and medical history in detail – what types of foods your child has eaten recently, how often, history of asthma, relatives with allergies, etc. The next step is to follow up with an allergist. Thankfully, my daughter’s symptoms resolved with Benadryl and close monitoring by doctor mom. For more severe reactions you will be directed to the emergency room where there are a host of other medications and support given to treat an allergic reaction. For mild reactions, this may be all your child needs. Your pediatrician will likely recommend a dose of Benadryl (diphenhydramine) which is an antihistamine and a great first step in treating an allergic reaction. If your child is having difficulty breathing or appears limp or pale – call 911. What do you do if your child appears to be having an allergic reaction? Call your pediatrician. “My mouth hurts.” – this was my daughter’s first complaint.“There’s something stuck in my throat.”.“It feels like something’s poking my tongue.”.Infants may put their hands in their mouths or pull on their tongues. In young children the first signs of an allergic reaction can be subtle and difficult for the child to describe. A more severe reaction (anaphylaxis) typically includes symptoms from multiple organ symptoms such as hives and difficulty breathing or hoarse voice and vomiting. HEART: Dizziness, feeling faint, pale, blue, weak pulse, confusedĪ mild reaction might include: an itchy mouth, a few hives around the mouth or face, or mild nausea or discomfort.GUT: Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea. LUNGS: Repetitive cough, wheeze, chest tightness, difficulty breathing.THROAT: Hoarseness, tightness, trouble breathing/swallowing.MOUTH: Itchy mouth, swelling of lips or tongue.EYES/NOSE: Stuffy/itchy nose, watery eyes, sneezing.These symptoms can range in severity and affect different parts of the body. Symptoms of a food allergy typically begin within minutes of eating the trigger food but there could be a gap of an hour or two between eating the food and noticing symptoms. These antibodies travel to cells that release histamine and other chemicals which then cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction. This may produce different symptoms, which are listed below, but in each case, your body is treating the food as a threat and producing immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. A food allergy, though, is a specific immune response to a particular food. Technically, an intolerance means that your body is not able to digest a specific substance (think lactose intolerance), while a sensitivity can mean that you have an unpleasant reaction to a food like acid reflux. There are currently lots of terms circulating relating to foods – sensitivity, intolerance, allergy, and they are often used interchangeably. Peanuts (actually part of the legume family).The eight foods responsible for the majority of allergic reactions are: It is also possible for both children and adults to develop an allergy to foods they’ve eaten many times before. While many allergies, like my daughter’s, are first diagnosed in young childhood, allergies can appear in older children as well as adults. It is estimated that 4-6 percent of children have a food allergy. At this point my pediatrician brain kicked in – she was likely having an allergic reaction: one of those divine layers in the dessert bars was walnuts.įood allergies affect up to 15 million people in the United States. While cleaning up, we found a few hives on her body. About 30 minutes later, she projectile vomited all over my husband. She got up from the table and went to play. A quick look in her mouth turned up nothing and I didn’t give it a second thought. My 2 year old daughter was just finishing up her dessert (7-Layer bars from Cook’s Illustrated – they’re awesome) and my first thought was that she’d bitten her tongue.
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