A guide for your child who is allergic to food

Peanut Allergies in Children

Allergic disease is a hereditary disease, meaning that a child will have an allergy when parents, siblings or grandparents have allergic diseases.

Allergic diseases are most often on the skin that will give eczema. In the upper airway with symptoms of sneezing, nasal congestion, obstruction and in the lower respiratory tract with symptoms of a chronic cough repeated to shortness of breath (asthma).

Prevention can still be done

Although your baby has symptoms of food allergies, does not mean you are late. The most important guidelines for allergic children still prevent and this can still be done to avoid more severe symptoms.

There are stages before your baby has allergic symptoms. First, the stage of sensitization is when the child learns "recognize" allergen substances (allergens). Second, the stage when the child has sensitized but has not appeared allergy symptoms, and third when allergy symptoms have appeared. Prevention is done at each stage.

1. Primary prevention

Aim to inhibit sensitization primarily to prevent the formation of IgE antibodies. Performed before the sensitization or when the child has not "known" the cause of allergies. How to eliminate allergen diet among breastfeeding mothers.

2. Secondary prevention

Aim to suppress the onset of symptoms after sensitization. Laboratory tests can be done first to know the specific IgE in the blood, cord blood, or skin test. Prevention is optimal at age 0 to 3 years.

Read also : Food Label Reading Guide for Children with Allergies

3. Tertiary prevention

Aims to prevent further impact after allergies. Conducted in sensitized children with early symptoms such as atopic dermatitis but not severe symptoms. Optimal done at the age of 6 months to 4 years. There should be a skin prick test (skin test) or a specific IgE test first. Way among others to avoid allergens and treat allergy symptoms that have arisen.

Tips for allergic children:

1. Give exclusive breastfeeding for 4-6 months
2. Diet in pregnant women to prevent allergies in your baby is not recommended unless the diet is peanuts. It is advisable to avoid cigarette smoke
3. Diet in breastfeeding mothers is considered on a need basis. However, all experts agree to a peanut diet on breastfeeding mothers who have children allergic or at risk of allergies.
4. If the child has been diagnosed with a cow's milk allergy and he or she is not receiving breast milk, in its stead or in addition, a whole protein hydrolysates formula is recommended. If not possible, the second option is partially hydrolyzed cow's milk, hypoallergenic, formulated to prevent allergies. Ideally given to babies who have not had allergic symptoms but are at risk for cow milk allergy.
5. Provision of soy milk did not prevent the development of allergies but can be alternative milk in children who are really allergic to cow's milk. Approximately 15-50% of cow's milk allergy children are also allergic to soy milk. Children who get soy milk formula will have the same growth as those fed with cow's milk formula.
6. Delay solid feeding until the age of 6 months and introduce food gradually:

• Foods that do not / rarely cause allergies are introduced 6 months of age: rice, carrots, pears, apples, avocados, and prunes.
• Intolerable food but can be allergic to 6 months: wheat, oatmeal, meat, chicken, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, spinach, corn (corn oil), bananas and Chinese radishes
• Foods that are likely to cause allergies are introduced at 9 months of age: egg yolks (cooked to ripe), soybeans, green beans, freshwater fish
• Foods that are very likely to cause allergies are introduced after 12 months of age: seafood (shrimp, crab), egg whites, and peanuts