Food Allergy in Babies – Symptoms and Treatments

Sometimes the immune system becomes oversensitive to certain substance which infants intake or are exposed to. The substances known as allergens make the immune system develop antibodies which in turn, trigger allergic reactions on the body. Infants are more vulnerable to these reactions as their immune system isn’t as strong as an adult’s. In this article we have compiled the causes, symptoms and possible treatments for food allergies in babies. Read on to know more about this.

Some common food allergies in infants:

At the age of 3 to 4 months, infants are often allergic to a number of food materials. These include egg, cow’s milk, butter and any spicy food. Infants should only be fed with mother’s milk till 6 months of age.

Symptoms of food allergy:

Allergic symptoms are different for different cases. Often the allergens develop anti allergic substances in the body such as histamine which trigger allergic reactions like skin rashes, bronchial problems, constipation, indigestion, asthma, etc. in extreme cases, histamine is secreted in abnormally large amounts leading to dilation of blood vessels and lower of blood pressure. This also associates with swelling in the body and rashes. Other common reactions are vomiting, headache, high uncontrollable fever and redness of the skin.

Treating food allergies in infants:

The best possible way to avoid food allergies in babies is to avoid certain foods that produce allergic reactions. These foods can be recognized through the doctors. Doctors often advise to avoid certain foods that are likely to trigger allergies.

Breastfeeding is the best way to avoid allergic reactions. A child should be breastfed till 10 months of age. Usually till this age, infants are allergic to cow’s milk.

If the baby is allergic to some food substance, the mother should also avoid consuming it. As the mother breastfeeds the baby, the baby is likely to get infected with the same.

Not all allergy-triggering food show instant reactions. Some shows the reaction later. If allergies or allergic symptoms graduate, one must stop feeding the baby with that particular food.

Always consult a doctor before indulging the baby in any food. The immune system in infants is extremely sensitive. So, ample prevention must be taken to avoid allergic reactions.