• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Common Baby Allergies

January 5, 2011 by ds_26371 Leave a Comment

Hundreds of things you come into contact with every day may trigger allergies — tree pollen, dust, mold, insect droppings and even the contents of your refrigerator. Allergies can develop at any stage of life, but food allergies are more common in infants and children than they are in adults, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

About Allergies

Allergies are caused when the immune system attacks proteins that are found in organic substances such as pollens, pet dander and in various foods. Having mistakenly identified the protein as a harmful invader, the immune system produces immunoglobulin E, or IgE, antibodies. This, in turn, causes the cells to manufacture histamines as a measure of counter-attack. Histamines can cause a number of allergic symptoms that affect your baby’s nose, eyes, throat, skin or gastrointestinal tract, according to the Nemours Foundation. Allergies are extremely common; the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology indicates that more than half of all adults and children have allergies.

Problem Foods

Eight foods are responsible for most food allergies in infants, children and adults: eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy foods, nuts, and gluten or wheat, according to the Nemours Foundation. Young infants are particularly susceptible to milk allergies. Between 2 and 3 percent of babies are allergic to the protein found in cow’s milk and in baby formulas prepared with cow’s milk. The protein in egg whites, peanuts and other nuts also cause food allergies commonly seen in infants and children. Milk, eggs and nuts pose a unique problem for parents with babies graduating to solid foods because these are hidden ingredients in many commercially prepared food items.

Food Allergy Symptoms

Allergy symptoms can be mild or severe. Signs that indicate your infant is experiencing an allergic response may include hives — raised red welts on the body — wheezing, congestion, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting and swelling of the face, lips and tongue. A severe allergic response can result in anaphylaxis, which is characterized by a restricted airway, fast pulse, precipitous drop in blood pressure and sometimes coma or death, according to MayoClinic.com.

Outgrowing Allergies

Most infants and children outgrow allergies to eggs, milk, wheat and soy by the age of 5, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Other food allergies linger on into adulthood, particularly allergies to peanuts, nuts and seafood. These foods are more likely to cause anaphylaxis.

Non-Allergic Reactions

Food allergies should not be confused with other health problems, such as food poisoning; diarrhea caused by the consumption of too much sugary fruit juice; or the skin rash that can result from the acids found in orange juice or tomato-based foods. Sensitivity to certain foods, preservatives and dyes is also not a true food allergy, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Lactose intolerance, often misidentified as a milk allergy because it causes diarrhea and stomach pain, occurs when your child lacks the enzyme needed to digest the sugars in milk. If you suspect that your baby suffers from food allergies, contact her pediatrician.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_26371

Lisa Sefcik has been writing professionally since 1987. Her subject matter includes pet care, travel, consumer reviews, classical music and entertainment. She's worked as a policy analyst, news reporter and freelance writer/columnist for Cox Publications and numerous national print publications. Sefcik holds a paralegal certification as well as degrees in journalism and piano performance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know

The other day one of my teenage daughters told me she was … [Read More...] about 10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

how to find out your pregnancy due date

How to Find Out Your Pregnancy Due Date

what causes baby hiccups

What Causes Baby Hiccups?

toddler hair growth

Toddler Hair Growth

How to Fix a Broken Slab of Marble

Mild Cramping During Early Stages of Pregnancy

Painful Intercourse During Pregnancy

Painful Intercourse During Pregnancy

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.