Dealing with Food Allergies

Male: In this word food allergy, pediatricians have a tendency now to give solid foods later and one of the theories is that if you give it later makes it less for developing allergy is that true? Male: We feel at this point that later introduction of certain foods does decrease the risk of allergies. The data is mixed. There are studies that suggest that this is true and there are other studies that show that it is not quite such a clear correlation. But for safety sake we tend to introduce solid foods especially more allergenic foods such as eggs added later eggs than when it was done. Male: If you breastfeed does that mean there is less chance of allergy? Male: Again, the studies are mixed. There are some studies that show that breastfeeding decreases the risk in certain area of allergies. There is also one very well done study that suggested that children who breast fed had a greater problem with allergies. I think a lot depends upon the mother’s diet. Remember that when you breastfeed you expose the child to everything you have eaten and so the proteins that you eat that pass on through breast milk are exposing the child and therefore may be setting them up for allergy symptoms later. The recommendation then is to minimize eating more highly allergenic foods such us eggs and peanuts during periods of breastfeeding this should help minimize the exposure to these allergens and hopefully decrease the risk of allergies later on. Male: If a child is conceived is there anything that could be done during the pregnancy that can minimize allergy? Male: We are not sure. The immune system is still developing during pregnancy and even for the first several months after birth the child’s immune system is continuing to develop. At this point we are uncertain as to whether manipulations during the pregnancy will actually change the immune systems development and therefore the development of allergy. It is an interesting area of study we do not yet have a definitive answer. Male: How would you know if a kid is allergic to milk? Male: If a child is allergic to milk then the first thing that we would see that the patient would have similar symptoms whenever they are drinking them. Since milk is a common ingestion on a daily basis therefore we would see the symptoms of allergies occur on an almost daily basis as well. Allergy symptoms could be skin rash such as eczema, it could be runny knows and congestion or may even be wheezing such as asthma. The next test we would try is the skin testing to see if the milk was the cause. If the skin testing was not tolerated by the child blood test would be possible. We would then eliminate milk from the diet, use a substitute and then re-challenge the child with milk at some point three to six months later just to be certain that the testing truly diagnosed a pure milk allergy. Male: Is this a myth or a fact? Some people feel the kid has a cold if he is drinking milk the mucous gets thicker in any kid is that possibly true or not true? Male: It is variable. There are some children where the milk fat can actually increase the secretions as they drink it. There are many children who tolerate milk perfectly well with no increase in their secretions from their ingestion. What I generally recommend to parents is know your child. Give the child milk during a cold and see what happens. If the secretion seems to be thicker or more uncomfortable to the child then eliminate milk for a day or two not for a long period of time. Male: What age would you say be safe to introduce extremely high trigger foods like shellfish or peanuts? What would be the right age you think could you choose these kinds of foods? Male: I would delay these foods for a long period of time. 18 months to two years at the very outset and actually in my practice I generally recommend four to five years of age before introducing these foods when at all possible. Male: So a Chinese restaurant is only for kids six months old is that correct? Male: Absolutely, I think a Chinese restaurant is a landmine of problems for young children. Male: If the kid has got severe allergy to peanuts they probably should have the thing called EpiPen available? Male: An EpiPen is a very useful devise that can help a child if they are having a severe allergic reaction and EpiPen is a device which looks like a pen and when pressed against the skin will automatically inject a rescue medication epinephrine sometimes called adrenalin into the skin and into the body. By injecting this medication it will very rapidly reverse the most severe allergy symptoms such as swelling and difficulty of breathing. The thing to remember is that an EpiPen delivers the medication that does not last very long in the body. Within 15 to 20 minutes that medications effect is wearing off. The EpiPen should always be followed by a visit to the doctor or a visit to the emergency room so that if symptoms were to start to return more definitive therapy can be given.