Finding Information Online For Food Allergy Help

Parents whose children are diagnosed with a food allergy often feel confused, utterly alone and dismayed. They understand that the road ahead could be long and require a lot of lifestyle modifications.

The good news is that there are many avenues for getting food allergy help, including emergency room staff, Epi-Pen makers, ambulance drivers, CPR instructors and nurses ready to spring to action in the event of serious allergic reactions. As well, there are doctors, researchers and allergists working on long-term therapies.

In addition to the short-term emergency treatments, there are currently three long-term experimental treatments that could offer food allergy help for patients. "This is the first time that we have a number of studies going on at the same time," says Anne Munoz-Furlong, founder of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.

"This is huge for the food allergy community. We finally can say that probably in 10 years, the landscape will look very different than it does now." For milk, peanut and egg allergies, researchers are proposing oral immunotherapy, which has patients swallowing tiny but incremental increases of the food they're allergic to, under doctor supervision, to build tolerance.

For various food allergies, a similar technique called sublingual therapy (drops containing proteins that trigger allergies placed under the tongue) is being used. Lastly, adults and kids with a shellfish, tree nut, fish or peanut allergy are being given the Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2 (FAHF-2) pill.

If you would like more comprehensive food allergy help, you can find local resources through the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (www.foodallergy.org) or the Food Allergy Initiative (www.foodallergyinitiative.org).

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.

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Understanding The Effect Of Food With Child Food Allergies

Child food allergies occur when the immune system develops antibodies to proteins found in normal everyday foods. When the body comes in contact with a certain food protein, the immune system mistakenly identifies the proteins as harmful invaders.

The antibodies trigger a release of histamines into the bloodstream, which causes the allergic reaction. Currently, researchers aren't sure what exactly causes the body to develop a food intolerance.

Another one of the most prevalent child food allergies is the milk allergy. This allergy is caused by two types of protein found in milk; casein and whey. Generally, a few minutes or hours after consuming milk, the individual will begin wheezing, vomiting or will have hives.

Over time, other allergy symptoms may turn up, like loose stools, diarrhea, cramps, runny nose, watery eyes or colic (in babies). An allergy to milk is differentiated from lactose intolerance because allergies involve the immune system attacking the body.

On the other hand, a food related intolerance involves the digestive system, with other problems like bloating, gas, diarrhea and vomiting. The only way to treat milk allergies is through avoidance of dairy.

While it may seem overwhelming to deal with child food allergies at first, there are many cookbooks and websites dedicated to helping you out. For instance, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network has a section for food allergy recipes at www.foodallergy.org/recipes.html.

You'll be able to search by breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts. You can find recipes for egg, wheat, milk, soy, peanut and tree nut allergies here. Or, if you prefer, you can also order The Food Allergy Cookbook (at www.foodallergycookbook.com), which contains over 260 allergy-free recipes.

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Educating Your Family About Children Food Allergy

"We still like to sit here and watch him eat," said the Ringstroms. Skin and blood tests showed that six-month-old Blake was severely allergic to just about all foods, save for pork and white navy beans.

After a visit to the Mayo Clinic, their son Blake had a tube implanted in his stomach because he had such horrible food allergy symptoms. "We just changed our mindset," mother Becky recalls.

"We felt like this is helping him... this is his food. Some people eat with a fork, but for him... he eats with his tube." Once Blake was at school, his parents began seeing how much his children food allergy affected him as he watched other kids eat. The Ringstroms decided to look for another approach.

More often than not, a suspected children food allergy turns out to be a false alarm of some sort. "The fear of possible reaction markedly reduces the quality of life amongst peanut-allergic patients and their families," stated Dr. Adnan Custovic, MD, PhD of the University of Manchester.

"However, avoiding peanuts only makes sense if child is really allergic." In a recent study of 79 children who tested positive in blood allergy tests, Dr. Custovic found that just 13 developed allergic symptoms at all and only 7 actually had peanut allergies.

Researchers concluded that misdiagnosis was very possible for 7.4% of those tested by blood or skin prick tests and that the only way to really tell for sure was with a Food Challenge study.

Four-week-old Grayson Grebe had such bad eczema on his cheeks that his doctor suspected he was experiencing a severe children food allergy. At six months, he was diagnosed with child food allergies to wheat, eggs, nuts, oats, rice, barley, dairy, chicken, pork, corn and beans.

By 10 months, fruits and vegetables had been ruled out and he was resigned to a life of living off special formula.

Unable to accept this prognosis, the Grebes took Grayson to the National Jewish Health Hospital in Denver, Colorado, where doctors were able to add twelve foods to his diet after Food Challenge testing. "It's made so much difference in our lives," says Amy Grebe.

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What Do You Know About Children Food Allergies?

Children food allergies can be a terrifying ordeal for parents who notice their precious child breaking out in sudden skin rashes, throwing up after eating or having trouble breathing.

While grade school and preschool child food allergies are rarely fatal, they can cause a lot of undue suffering and require a lifetime of careful vigilance to prevent symptoms from appearing. Over the years, the number of child allergies seems to be on the rise, but some say this is due to an increased awareness and more frequent testing.

Critics say the only reason why children food allergies have "gone up" in recent years is that the general public is more aware about the possibility of food allergies in kids.

They also argue that more and more doctors are using unreliable blood tests, which work better to rule out a food allergy than to provide definitive proof of the allergy. In 2003, a report published in Pediatrics Magazine said that blood allergy tests were only half accurate.

In 2007, researchers at the John Hopkins Children's Center reported that blood allergy tests could both overestimate and underestimate the body's immune response to an allergen.

Some doctors posit that their recommendations may have inadvertently played a role in children food allergies. The American Academy of Asthma Allergy and Immunology is currently re-evaluating guidelines recommending that eggs, peanuts and shellfish not be introduced to a child's diet until age 2 or 3.

Early exposure to peanuts has shown to decrease the peanut allergy risk in 10,000 British Children (The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunolgoy, 2008).

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Ongoing Studies About Food Allergies And Children

Studies about food allergies and children may have you scratching your head, wondering what these findings all mean. After all, past research said to keep children under the age of 3 away from known allergens like shellfish and peanuts.

Now it seems they're saying the opposite is best -- to expose children to these foods sooner. A third school of thought says there is no way to prevent child food allergies from developing.

If you suspect your child may have a food allergy or intolerance, then it's most important that you keep a record of your child's diet and symptoms. You may also benefit from knowing what sort of research is being done.

"Possible Link Between Obesity and Childhood Allergies," finds a study funded by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

This study looked at the link between food allergies and children who were obese (in the 95th percentile of the normal body mass index for their age/height). Researcher Stephanie London M.D. found that, "The rate of having a food allergy was 59% higher for obese children."

The NIEHS report added that it's especially important to combat epidemics like obesity and food allergies in children, which have been on the rise over the past few decades.

For some, with regard to food allergies and children, the problem will clear up as science improves. Long-term studies are testing whether tolerance can be built up to eradicate these food allergies.

For lifelong sufferers, food scientists are creating delicious versions of these foods, minus the molecules that cause a food allergy reaction. Also, blood tests are being developed that hope to more accurately classify an allergy, rather than just an antibody.

For all the latest news on kid food allergies, you can visit www.sciencedaily.com.

To read more Ongoing Studies About Food Allergies And Children

Preliminary Tests For Food Allergies In Children

How likely is it to overcome food allergies in children? A good question, as at least 50% of children who are allergic to cow's milk, egg, soy and wheat will outgrow their allergy by age 6.

However, kids with a walnut, cashew, almond, pistachio or peanut allergy have a 20% chance of recovery. As a parent, you're likely wondering what you can do to help your child.

Food Challenge tests are an accurate and widely accepted way of testing for food allergies in children. The only way to truly know if a child is allergic to a particular food is to have him or her ingest it.

Since there are dangers involved with this method, children should only be tested in a clinical setting, where emergency personnel are at hand. Most allergic reactions involve small skin rashes or mild tingling in the mouth, which are easily treated.

In rare cases, a child may stop breathing and encounter anaphylaxis. To perform this test, an allergy specialist gives the patient very, very small doses of the suspected allergen until gradual tolerance develops.

Despite the success of the Food Challenge when it comes to food allergies in children, many anxious parents do not want to go through the process. It seems counterintuitive to ask children to eat something that is known to be harmful to them.

However, there are many reasons to go through with the test as well. First, blood test results and skin test results are not very accurate. Another reason to perform a Food Challenge is to see if the allergy has been outgrown.

Lastly, a Food Challenge can pinpoint the precise food causing the kid food allergy. Elimination diets can take much longer to yield results. Documenting the degree of sensitivity to the food is the most precise way to uncover the child's tolerance level.

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Knowing About Children With Food Allergies

About 7% of people under 18 are children with food allergies. Most children outgrow their food allergies and intolerance by age 5, but 2% of adults have endured lifelong allergies to peanuts, wheat, milk or shellfish.

Some allergies will cause a mild skin rash, runny nose, diarrhea or nausea. In more serious cases, your child may have difficulty swallowing, talking or breathing and may throw up or pass out. It is essential that you educate yourself, your child and your child's caregivers on the seriousness of child food allergies.

As a parent of children with food allergies, it is also important that you educate the child about what a kid food allergy is, what the dangers are and about treatment for food allergy reactions.

For younger kids, it's helpful to read books on the subject, such as Ask Before I Eat, Allie the Allergic Elephant, Bugabees Friends with Food Allergies, The Peanut Butter Jam and The Terrific Tale of Teddy the Tummy.

If your child is a little bit older, then you might enjoy watching the 84-minute documentary film by Kevin J. Lindenmuth, titled, "I'm Not Nuts: Living with Food Allergies." Often if you attend local support groups, you will find a number of resources to help you when discussing food allergies with your child.

If having children with food allergies is a difficult diagnosis for your family, then visit the Food Allergy Initiative website (www.faiusa.org) to find support groups in your area.

For example, the Food Allergy Support of Sacramento in California is a parent-run group that focuses on networking, peer support and food free events for kids with food allergies to meet other kids like them. The Metro DC Food Allergy Support Group holds family social events, like Halloween parties and Christmas events.

The WNY Food Allergy Connection is a volunteer community resource that provides food allergy recipes, coping tips and peer meetings. The Parents of Allergic Kids Support Group in North Carolina holds bi-monthly parent meetings and child activities.

Philadelphia's Food and Environmental Allergy Support Team holds guest speaker discussions on allergies in schools or at restaurants, as well as product suggestions, allergy testing updates, psychological effects of allergies, new allergy medication options and alternative therapies.

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The Signs Of A Food Allergy

Infant food allergies most commonly occur when parents are introducing their babies to new foods. Sometimes certain proteins cause the body to make an antibody called IgE, which alerts the baby's system that a foreign invader has arrived.

For babies, ninety percent of food allergies come from milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts or almonds), fish (tuna, salmon, cod), shellfish (shrimp, lobster, crab), soy or wheat.

The American Academy of Pediatrics used to recommend that parents wait until their child reaches the age of 3, at least, to try something like peanuts because of the potential for serious allergic reactions, but recently they admitted there is no research to back up the theory that late introduction to certain foods prevents allergies. You may find, however, that it's less stressful to deal with a food allergy reaction in an older child.

The best way to cope with serious food allergies is to keep your infant away from their food trigger. Make sure babysitters, relatives, daycare workers and school officials know about their food allergy and subsequent reaction. Breastfeeding offers good protection against allergies, so it's best to breastfeed as long as you can.

When your child is old enough to understand, try reading books to him or her about asking before eating, coping with teasing from other kids and staying safe. Most communities offer resources for parents to communicate with their kids and caregivers about this topic.

At about nine or ten months, parents like to start moving their babies away from a diet consisting solely of baby food. Pediatric food allergies can be a scary thing for parents, so they sometimes hold off on introducing certain foods.

Even if there is no added food allergy risk, it is easier to manage older babies with allergies. Allergy reactions are the worst for peanuts and shellfish, so many pediatricians recommend waiting until your child is at least three years old to introduce these things.

Whole cow's milk should not be given to babies under a year of age because the proteins are too complex for the baby's stomach to digest. However, yogurt and soft cheeses are a subtler way to introduce dairy, as these products are broken down.

Honey is another substance doctors recommend holding off of on (until age 1 or 2) because it may cause a disease called infant botulism.

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Staying Healthy With A Nut Allergy

Nut allergy is quite common these days. Every day, there seems to be someone on the news who has had an adverse reaction to nuts in food. The other day, there was a little boy who shared a peanut butter sandwich with his pre-school friend. Unfortunately, the effect on his health was fatal.

If there are people in your family, who have food allergies, then you need to buy food products without these food ingredients. For example, many food products like cookies, chocolates, ice creams, desserts and cakes contain nuts or traces of nuts.

But, there are alternative versions of the same food products, that do not contain nuts. You need to check the list of ingredients on the label of the food product for nuts and traces of nuts, to confirm there are no nuts in the food product you are about to buy.

If you have doubts about the safety of a food product, then do not buy it.

If you or someone in your family has a nut allergy, then you need to ensure that when you are at social occasions, you do not consume any products containing nuts. Many party foods contain nuts, so this is an area where you will have to be vigilant.

These are some of the many steps you can take to avoid any adverse health reactions when managing your nut allergy.

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Tips For Managing Your Gluten Allergy

Gluten allergy affects people who cannot eat wheat protein in their food, as it affects their health. If you suspect you may have a food allergy, you should visit your medical doctor, where you will be sent for diagnostic tests to confirm your allergy. If the tests confirm a gluten allergy, then you will be advised of the types of food you need to avoid, including food with wheat protein like breads and cookies.

But, all is not lost. There are many food products that are gluten free, including gluten free bread and gluten free cookies. If there is a food product that you enjoy, look for an alternative, by finding the same food product but available as a gluten free alternative.

Although a limited range of gluten free products can be found in many food stores, the largest range of gluten free products are found in health food stores. As long as you find gluten free products, life should not be difficult when living with a gluten allergy.

You may find the health food store is your best source of gluten free products to help maintain your health and manage your gluten allergy.

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Food Allergy Recipes With Alternative Ingredients

Food allergy recipes include alternatives to your regular ingredients, depending on the relevant food allergies. If you are allergic to wheat, then you may look at using spelt or kamut as wheat alternatives. Your main aim is to avoid adding an ingredient where there will be an adverse health reaction. This is why you will need to seek the advice of a medical doctor to confirm the diagnosis and advise you of the food ingredients to avoid.

You should then consult with a registered dietitian who can advise on the alternatives available and help you set up a diet program where you can use food allergy recipes to create delicious meals with alternative ingredients.

There may be times when you do not know if you have an allergy to a certain food ingredient. You should consult with your medical doctor, so that you can be sent for a diagnosis for all possible allergies. For example, you may have an allergy to nuts, then this can be diagnosed and you will know to avoid nuts.

Some of these allergies can lead to extremely adverse health reactions, including death. For these reasons, you should look to seek medical advice and the assistance of a registered dietitian to help you with food allergy recipes.

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