Does your child have an allergy? Here are your burning questions answered

Posted: 4th January 2023 | Posted by Costa

Does your child have an allergy? Here are your burning questions answered

Being a parent is already difficult enough. You’re probably already well aware of the trials and tribulations of raising a small human. They can be naughty. They get sad. And sometimes you look back fondly on the days when you had so much more time and freedom. But would you change that for the world? Of course not.

Raising your child or children is a privilege – one that can, unfortunately, come with some challenges. Such as food allergies. It adds another complication onto an already tough task. And we understand why that can cause plenty of anxiety for you. If you’re new to the world of allergies and don’t know what to do, let us help. Here are some common allergy questions parents have.

Why does your child have an allergy?

We’ll start with one of the more obvious ones. Why do they have an allergy? Where did it even come from? We’re sorry to say that this doesn’t have a simple answer. Whether they’re reacting to a specific food, something in their environment, or an animal, there’s no one explanation for it.

It can be something in their genetics, a response to their environment, their gut biome, or just plain old bad luck. The “where” doesn’t matter. What does is how you respond to it.

Will they have an allergy forever?

The good part is not every child has their allergies forever. Depending on what they’re allergic to, up to 80% of children can outgrow their condition. Note that this differs from allergy to allergy. The 80% is for milk and egg allergies. For something like peanuts, it’s more like 20%. And shellfish is more like only 5%.

It’s something you will have to monitor. Can you influence the likelihood of them growing out of it? While some theorise that exposure to an allergen early on can help, this is still dangerous to do. If your child has an allergy, talk to a doctor about it for your next steps.

How do I get others to take it seriously?

This is especially concerning for parents of children with food allergies. Ingestion of food they’re allergic to can lead to anaphylaxis, which is potentially fatal. This is incredibly scary, and completely understandable to want everyone else to take it seriously.

The good news is that we’re making strides in people’s perceptions of allergies. With the passing of legislation such as Natasha’s Law, things are getting better. But to combat this in your own life, the best option is to sit down and have an honest conversation. Let people in your life know what an allergy can lead to for your child, and how it will affect them. Be firm, make no compromises, and lay out a plan for how your child should be treated.

What about at school?

At school, this gets harder. They’re out of your hands for around 6 hours of the day, and you can’t change that environment. Again, be open with the school staff and talk to them about their allergy-related rules.

Your child won’t be the only one with an allergy. So, with any sense, the school should already have steps in place. Find out what these are, talk about how they will handle your child, and don’t rest until you feel as comfortable as you need to be.

Do you have any resources?

We’ve been writing articles for our blog for many years. So we’ve built up quite a collection of information you might find helpful. Here are some other blogs on the topic of child food allergies:

If you still have questions after that, talk to an allergy specialist. They’ll be more than happy to put your mind at ease and give you the advice you need.

Talk to our team at Allergy Clinic London if you ever have any concerns. Our experts know what you’re going through and can offer the support you need at a time like this. To find out more, reach out to us on 02031 433 449.

Does your child have an allergy? Here are your burning questions answered