July 25, 2011

Infant Food Allergies

Most of us have heard of the typical food allergy reactions such as skin rashes, swelling of the face and anaphylactic shock.  Peanuts and shellfish are among the most serious food allergies found in infants but many other popular foods are potentially causing allergies with less obvious reactions.  The truth is that many parents don’t realize that food allergies can secretly present themselves as eczema, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, acid reflux, hives, coughing, wheezing, restless sleep, recurrent ear and bladder infections, excessive crying and so on!

Food allergies are due to the immune system over-reacting to a usually harmless substance and are different than food intolerances which have a similar presentation in infants.  Food intolerances are usually due to a problem with the gut!  More infants have food intolerances rather than food allergies but similar foods seem to be causing the problem.

If you know an infant who’s experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned, try cutting-out the following foods and see if you can find a link!

Cow Dairy:  A very common food allergy and food intolerance.  It has been correlated to digestive problems, eczema and recurrent ear infections in certain infants.  If suspected, breast-feeding moms should avoid dairy or dairy based formulas.

Soy: 8 to 15% of infants with dairy allergy are also allergic to soy.  Parents need to be aware of this in cases where the infant is supplemented with formula.  To avoid problems, try a formula that is dairy AND soy free!

Egg: A common allergen in adults, eggs can be hard to digest for infants and can cause skin problems such as hives or eczema.

Wheat: Found in most foods, many individuals believe that gluten (a type of protein found in many grains) is the culprit when it comes to wheat allergies.  Digestive issues, concentration problems and anxiety have been correlated to gluten consumption in certain infants.

In extreme cases where there’s no improvement an elimination diet might be the solution!

Tanya Manikkam is a Naturopathic Doctor with a focus in men and women’s health.  She uses clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy and lifestyle counselling in order to help her patients achieve an optimal state of health.  She currently practices at Pollack College Rehab and The Madison Clinic in Toronto.

Comments