Allergies & Intolerances in Children

Did you know?  Up to one in 5 Australian children have allergies or intolerances
The most common food allergies are to :

• Nuts
• Cows milk
• Wheat
• Egg
• Fish & Shellfish
• Soy

However, many children (and their parents) may have food chemical intolerances. This means they have reactions to substances naturally found in foods such as Salicylates, Amines and glutamates. What is often surprising is that many 'healthy' foods are culprits - think berries, avocado, oranges, nuts. Many may also have reactions to artificial food additives such as MSG, colours, flavours and preservatives.

Adverse food reactions often play a role in –

• Asthma
• Attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity
• Digestive problems including heartburn, constipation, diarrhoea and IBS
• Eczema, psoriasis and acne
• Fatigue
• Headaches and Migraines
• Joint and muscle aches and pains like arthritis and fibromyalgia 
• Learning difficulties, poor concentration
• Mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and PMT
• Recurring infections, especially ear, throat and bladder
• Sinusitis and ‘hayfever’
• Sleep disorders including insomnia, snoring and sleep apnoea

To clarify the differences between ‘allergy’ and ‘intolerance’ –

• Food allergies are immune-mediated reactions to a food. This is generally reserved for the classic IgE meditated allergies but other forms of adverse immune-related reactions like IgG and IgA also belong here.
• Food intolerances are non-immunological adverse reactions to a food or food additive.  These include intolerance to lactose, tyramine, histamine, sulfites, MSG, artificial colors and preservatives, oxalates, benzoates, and other naturally occurring substances in foods.

So if you suspect you or your child has an allergy or sensitivity, what next?

• Keep a food and symptom diary – remember reactions can be delayed over a few days or may happen as a result of accumulation of foods
• Eliminate and challenge – remove suspected food group for 3 weeks then reintroduce under the supervision of your health practitioner
• Follow a ‘low reactive’ food plan and watch symptoms – then reintroduce foods in a rotation manner – once again this is best guided by your health practitioner

SOMETIMES IT IS BETTER TO TEST RATHER THAN GUESS. There are a number of ways to test for allergies – the relatively non-invasive skin prick test for IgE, IgG and IgA antibodies may be a good option for you or your child. We can do this for you or it is very easy to do at home. 

Naturopathic Note: Allergic or intolerant children often have weak digestive function, reduced stomach acid and enzyme production and poor gut flora balance. Often the most helpful way to combat food intolerance is to rectify this deficit.

Stay tuned for our next SeedPod full of meal ideas & recipes for those with allergies & intolerances!