;;;;;;;; FOOD INTOLERANCE; & FOOD ALERGIC;;;;;;;;;;;;;

It is a fact that food intolerances and allergies are more common in babies and children up the age of five.
The most common food allergies and intolerances are:
Cow’s milk

Egg

Nuts

Wheat

Gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley and oats)

Soya

Tomatoes

Sesame seeds

Citrus fruits

Shellfish

Fish

The differences between food allergic and food intolerances:
Food allergic:
a) Usually cause immediate reaction after eating a particular food.
b) Symptoms can occur in a few second or minutes after eating.
c) Common symptoms: itchy skin, sneezing, blocked or runny nose, itchy or swelling tongue and lips, shortness of breath and coughing.
d) Anaphylaxis: potentially life threatening allergic that need medical treatment.
e) Symptoms: itchy skin rashes (hives), swelling of the lips and tongue, difficulty breathing, tightening if the throat, feeling faint, look pale and clammy.
f) If untreated, it will cause loss of consciousness and fatal. You may directly go to the hospital.
Food intolerance:
a) Much more delayed reaction. Occurring an hour or days after eating foods.
b) Often involve digestion problem.
c) Symptoms: Tummy pain or colic, bloating, diarrhea, wind and vomiting.
d) Cause a lot of discomfort and over time, malnutrition. However, it is not life threatening.
Some other conditions have similar symptoms to food intolerance. So never assume your child has food intolerance and try to deal it yourself. It better takes your child to the doctor for medical checkup.
Children with family history of allergy are more likely to get the allergic reaction or intolerance. But not all children with family history will experiences it. Parents are advised to avoid giving foods that commonly cause reaction until specific age milestones. For example, baby in four months should not start solid food until reacting six months old.
Nuts should not be giving to child until they are five years old. It is recommended to avoid child from choke on.