Parents want to keep their children safe and healthy. When a child has an allergic reaction, it can be scary and unsettling. What elicited the reaction is not always clear.
Food allergies are becoming increasingly common, affecting up to 8% of children in the United States. Symptoms can range from mild reactions, like hives or stomach upset, to severe and life-threatening conditions like anaphylaxis. If you suspect your child might have a food allergy, understanding the next steps is crucial to protecting their health and providing peace of mind for your family.
Common Signs of Food Allergies in Children
Symptoms of food allergies can appear from minutes to hours after eating and may include the following:
Skin reactions like hives, itching, or eczema
Swelling of the lips, tongue, eyes or throat
Stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea
Sneezing, nasal congestion, or itchy eyes
Difficulty breathing or wheezing
Lethargy or an impending sense of doom
If your child has experienced any of these symptoms after eating, food allergy testing should be considered.
What Happens During Food Allergy Testing?
At Advanced Specialty Care, we offer comprehensive food allergy testing to help identify the specific allergens triggering your child’s symptoms. Testing options include:
Skin Tests: A quick and non-invasive test where a small amount of allergen is placed in contact with your child’s skin to observe if there is a localized reaction. Blood Tests: Used to measure the presence of allergen-specific antibodies in your child’s system. Oral graded challenges: Used to determine if a food can be safely reintroduced or if it needs to be avoided. Your child would be given small amounts of the food to eat and the amount would slowly be increased every 15-20 minutes as tolerated. We closely monitor for any sign of reaction and will treat any allergic reaction that may occur.
Our allergists carefully evaluate your child’s history and test results to create a tailored plan to manage their allergies effectively.
Why Get Your Child Tested for Food Allergies?
Early identification of food allergies can help your family avoid serious allergic reactions and improve your child’s quality of life. It also empowers you with the knowledge to:
Identify foods to avoid
Learn how to read food labels effectively
Be prepared with emergency medications like epinephrine (if necessary)
Learn about other potential therapeutic options such as oral immunotherapy (food desensitization) and Xolair (biologic medication)
We’re Here to Help
Advanced Specialty Care is home to Fairfield County’s leading Allergy & Asthma specialists. We work with families to diagnose, manage, and treat food allergies in children of all ages. From education and support to cutting-edge treatment options like oral immunotherapy (OIT), we’re committed to helping your child live a healthy, happy life.
Dr. Godhwani is an Allergy & Asthma doctor at Advanced Specialty Care, specializing in asthma, allergy and immunology with an interest in allergic rhinitis, immune deficiency, eosinophilic esophagitis, chronic sinusitis, childhood eczema, asthma, chronic hives, food allergy, and drug allergy. She treats adult & pediatric patients in our Danbury,New Milford, and Norwalk offices.