Food Allergies
Your child is not alone. In fact, it’s estimated that 4 out of every 100 children in the US have food allergies.1
What are food allergies?
A food allergy is a reaction of the body's immune system to proteins found in food. For some people, eating certain foods causes the body to make an antibody that triggers the allergic reaction. Repeated exposure to the particular food allergen can cause the allergic reaction to become more severe in some people. Fortunately, some people — especially children — can outgrow their food allergy after a period of time by completely avoiding the particular food allergen. For others, food allergy may be lifelong.
Common food allergy symptoms:
- Rash or hives
- Nausea/vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Itchy skin or eyes
- Shortness of breath
- Runny nose
- Swelling of the airways to the lungs
- Anaphylaxis
How to manage food allergies
Currently, the only way to manage food allergy is to identify the food or food protein that triggers a reaction and then avoid all exposure to that food or food protein.
Did You Know?
The most common food allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, and pecans), fish and shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame.