Diagnosing Food Allergies In Children

When food allergies in children are suspected, the pediatrician will go through a detailed medical history with the parents and perform a basic physical examination. The doctor will ask many questions to get a list of suspected foods and allergy symptoms. Before you arrive at the doctor's office, you should have a detailed food diary for your child, which includes diet, type of reaction, how long the reactions last, etc. It's possible that your child may outgrow his or her allergy by age 6, but there are certain tests that must be taken before that can be determined.

Currently, there are two preliminary tests for food allergies in kids. After going over the child's and family's medical history, a basic physical examination and asking questions about the child's diet, pediatricians generally recommend a blood test. Even though this is not 100% predictive, many allergies can be ruled out this way. During this test, a small amount of blood will be drawn and observed for the presence of IgE antibody, which will reveal an immune system response to a particular food protein. For people with extreme shellfish or peanut allergies, this test is preferred because the patient does not have to be exposed to the potential allergens. During the 30-minute prick skin test, a tiny amount of solution containing a suspected allergen is placed on the skin, which is then pricked to let the solution get below the surface. If there is an allergic reaction, such as itchiness or a bump, then it's likely there is a food allergy.

More and more scientists are coming to the conclusion that a Food Challenge is the best way to treat food allergies in children. Researchers say the Food Challenge is also the most accurate way of knowing whether a child is truly allergic to something or not. After asking some basic questions and performing a typical physical, the allergy specialist will give the child a very small amount of suspected allergen and monitor the allergic reaction in a clinical setting. Sometimes just one-sixth of a peanut will be given until the specialist finds the child's tolerance threshold. Over time, most children are able to eat a little more peanut each time, until they are able to consume up to 15 peanuts a day! While this approach may seem dangerous, it has proven successful in many cases and all the necessary medical equipment is in the room to help should a rare case of anaphylaxis occur. Patients with severe asthma or who are otherwise sickly should not participate in a Food Challenge.  

"The Food Challenge is what we call the gold standard for diagnosing food allergy," said Dr. David Fleischer of the National Jewish Hospital. "It is the best test for determining whether someone has a food allergy. The problem is that a lot of people think they have food allergies; there are a lot of people that have reactions to food out there, but not every reaction is a food allergy," he added. It is important to get rid of food allergies in children, if possible, so these kids can enjoy healthy and normal nutritional development. Currently, there is no other treatment for food allergy sufferers other than abstinence or trying to ingest small doses in a controlled setting.

Related topics about Food Allergies in Children
Important Information On Infant Food Allergy
There are many online sources of information available to you if you suspect your child has an infant food allergy. You can check out websites like www.babycenter.

Getting The Food Allergy Help You Need
If you would like more comprehensive food allergy help, you can find local resources through the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network or the Food Allergy Initiative. Here you will find support groups, food-related allergy recipes, activism events, research updates, literature downloads and methods for coping with allergy symptoms at home, school and restaurants. Once you're armed with enough allergy information, you'll feel more prepared for dealing with whatever life throws your way.

Children's Food Allergies: FAQ
Children's food allergies can be difficult for a parent or adult to understand let alone a child. But educating your child is the best thing you can do. They may have lots of questions about why other kids can eat certain things but they cannot.