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Food allergies are still a problem that is often experienced by children. Unfortunately, until now there has been no national research related to the incidence of food allergy in children in Indonesia as a whole. In addition, the number of parents who considered their children a food allergy far more than the results of a doctor's examination.
Prof Dr. Zakiudin Munasir, SpA (K) said food allergies can have a negative impact on child growth if any restrictions on consumption of the type of food that is actually needed for growth. Therefore, an appropriate diagnosis is needed to identify allergic food triggers.
Nevertheless, according to Zakiudin, the diagnosis of food allergies including the type that is difficult to enforce. The large variety of food in Indonesia plus additive ingredients such as spices, flavorings, preservatives that can make it difficult for clinicians to determine the food trigger allergies.
"The wrong perception of parents contributes to the difficulty of making a diagnosis of food allergies in children," said Prof. Zakiudin in his inaugural ceremony speech as a permanent professor in Child Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia (FKUI), at Auditorium Gedung Imeri FKUI, Jakarta, Saturday 20/1).
Prof Zakiudin explains many prevention strategies allergies that had been used have been abandoned because it is not proven effective. Among them avoid allergenic food during pregnancy. In addition to unproven benefits, also leads to malnutrition in the fetus.
"Avoidance of allergenic food by mothers during breastfeeding does not reduce the incidence of food allergies in children," said Zakiudin Professor Zakiudin.
Another thing that does not prove to be effective is the delay of giving solid food after a six-month-old baby. The move is not proven to prevent food allergies, but it increases the risk of food allergies, eczema, and asthma.
Give breast milk
He explained prevention of food allergies in children are recommended and still relevant, among others, with exclusive breastfeeding in newborns up to 6 months. According to this recommendation is very strong in food allergy prevention efforts both in the mother and baby because it strengthens the baby's endurance. In addition, solids aged 4-6 months are recommended gradually and continue to breastfeed after an exclusive breastfeeding period.
Cow milk formula is hydrolyzed in infants who have a high risk of allergies, he continued, proven to prevent the incidence of cow milk allergy. In addition, the avoidance of cigarette smoke can prevent allergic diseases in children. Exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy is proven to cause tissue damage, pulmonary developmental disorders, and infant immune system. Cigarette smoke exposure can cause wheezing (asthma) and breathing problems in children at an early age.
A mild food allergy, says Zakiudin, begins with itching to severe symptoms that can lead to death such as anaphylactic shock. Research on 425 people proved that most food allergy manifestation is atopic dermatitis (eczema) as much as 45%.
Until now, added Zakiudin, allergen test (allergy triggers) that have significant relevance to the symptoms there are two of the allergy (skin prick test) and specific IgE examination. The goal is to determine the presence of IgE antibodies against specific allergens that are specific.
In treating allergies, Prof Zakiudin said first need to identify allergenic food triggers, avoid them and replace them with foods that can meet the nutritional needs of children, and prepare medicines when children do not intentionally take them. "Parents, caregivers, and teachers need to get educated about it," the message.
Source : mediaindonesia.com
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