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Dr Jan Sinclair - Paediatric Allergist
Private Service, Paediatrics, Allergy and Immunology
Food Allergy
Food allergy is a common problem, affecting up to 5% of children. Many food allergic reactions in children are mild and many children outgrow their food allergies with time. A small range of foods are responsible for most food allergic reactions some of which have a good chance of going away with time (e.g. milk, egg, wheat, soy) and some of which are more likely to persist into adulthood (e.g. peanut/nut and fish/shellfish).
Food allergic reactions can cause a variety of signs and symptoms, including:
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Skin – rash, itching, redness, swelling
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Gut – tummy pain, vomiting, diarrhoea
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Respiratory tract – runny nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, cough, wheeze
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Cardiovascular system – faintness, collapse.
A severe food allergic reaction or anaphylaxis will result in difficult/noisy breathing, swelling of tongue, swelling/tightness in throat, difficulty talking/hoarse voice, wheeze or persistent cough, dizziness (loss of consciousness and/or collapse), and becoming pale and floppy in young children. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency – an anaphylaxis plan should be followed if there is one available and an ambulance called.
Most often the cause of a food allergic reaction is apparent as there is prompt reaction after ingestion of a new food. Allergy tests (skin tests or blood tests for specific IgE) will generally be done to confirm the cause of a food allergic reaction. Ongoing management involves avoidance of the food in question, with follow up to determine whether an allergy has resolved. All patients with food allergy should have a plan for management of any further reactions. In the longer term food challenge may be needed to determine if a food allergy has resolved.
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This page was last updated at 9:25AM on September 20, 2023.