Many infants and children experience food allergies or intolerances, and it is forever a grueling task for parents to discover and understand which foods make their little one sick.  The following information is provided to help you understand what your child might be dealing with, but please understand that not all symptoms are listed and a child might have his own unique reaction instead of or in addition to those listed.   

Food Allergy

When the immune system mistakes a food or an ingredient in a food as poison, it automatically starts to defend itself by creating antibodies that battle the food.  When the antibodies battle the food or ingredient, the reaction occurs.  Reactions differ from child to child, and some are severe while others are less harmful.  Some common symptoms of a food allergy are:

• rash and/or hives
• itchy skin
• nausea
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• breathing difficulties
• chest pain
• airway swelling
• anaphylaxis (potentially fatal allergic response involving swelling, hives, low blood pressure, dialated blood vessels, and possibly shock)

Diagnosing Food Allergies

Skin testing and RAST testing may be used to diagnose allergies.  However, many pediatricians and allergists agree that allergy testing is highly inaccurate in infants and young children.  Also, allergy testing relies on an allergy to a protein in the food to be present, so if a child is allergic to a different component of the food, it will not show a positive result.  By discussing symptoms with your pediatrician, he or she will point you in the right direction.  Some encourage the patient to pursue testing, while others diagnose the allergy by symptoms alone and then discuss a prevention and treatment plan.  Allergy testing in a controversial subject among doctors, and any two doctors will likely have different opinions about it.  The important thing is that you know the signs and keep your doctor informed about your child’s symptoms! 

Food Intolerance

When the digestive system is irritated by a certain food or cannot digest a certain food, it is referred to as a food intolerance.  Also, any sort of reaction not falling into the allergy category or not being diagnosed through allergy testing is typically considered an intolerance.  Several common symptoms of a food intolerance are:

• nausea
• stomach pain
• gas, cramping, bloating
• vomiting
• heartburn, acid reflux
• diarrhea
• headache
• irritability and nervousness

Diagnosing Food Intolerances

Most food intolerances are diagnosed by symptoms, only.  Keeping a log of foods that your child ingested and symptoms from that point forward is a great tool to use with your doctor to figure out which food is causing the problem.  In an infant or very young child, an elimination diet is typically recommended by doctors.  This method involves removing all foods that could be causing symptoms from the diet, and then introducing them back into the diet one at a time for four to seven days each while documenting reactions.  This is the most accurate way to tell which specific food is causing the symptoms.  While doing an elimination diet, you should not move on to the next food until you have come to a conclusion about the current food being trialed and all symptoms of intolerance have ceased.