Allergy Treatment

The best treatment for a food allergy is to completely avoid the problem food. Being diagnosed with a food allergy has a massive impact on the whole family. Eating is such a central part of day to day life that having to be absolutely sure that a child has no contact with a particular food effects mealtimes, going to school, holidays and social occasions. A simple supermarket trip has been shown to be almost 40% longer when shopping for a food allergic child. Parents also need to be able to recognise reactions and know exactly how to deal with them when they occur. This usually involves carrying antihistamines everywhere the child goes and also, for those children at risk of anaphylaxis, adrenaline injections. Children with food allergies are also at risk of missing out of the essential nutrients that they would otherwise get from the food they are avoiding especially in the case of infants with milk allergy. Fortunately, there are now many specially designed milk substitutes suitable for these children and with the help of a dietician, a nutritious diet can be achieved even in children with multiple food allergies.

Many food allergies, such as egg and milk, are outgrown during childhood whilst allergies to peanuts, nuts, fish and shellfish tend not to go away. Children with food allergies also have a high chance of having other allergic problems such as asthma, eczema and hayfever.

It is essential that children with food allergies continue to be seen by their doctors as they grow up. Repeating allergy tests can help predict if the allergy has been outgrown so that the food can be carefully reintroduced into the diet. It is also essential that the child is carefully examined for any signs that they are missing out on any essential nutrients due to their restricted diet, or if they are developing signs of other allergic problems.

Unfortunately, there are no cures for food allergy in the immediate future although exciting research does promise real progress over the next 5-10 years, not only in our understanding of how to prevent allergies occurring in the first place but also for helping those who already have them.