Tips for parents of children with food allergies

13th October 2021

Tips for parents of children with food allergies

Whether you just found out your child has a food allergy or if you’ve known for some time now, you may feel anxious, stressed or worried. But you’re not alone. 

5-8% of children in the UK suffer from food allergies. And one recent study showed over 80% of parents face “significant worry” about their child’s food allergy, 42% have post-traumatic stress symptoms, and 39% said they experience moderate to severe anxiety. But no one should have to suffer. So here are three essential tips for parents of children with food allergies.

Speak to other parents whose children have allergies

Part of what can make it so scary as a parent is the feeling you’re on your own. You feel it’s up to you to keep your child safe, and if you’ve never had to deal with allergies before, you might not even know where to begin.

So why not meet up with other parents in person to share your experiences? This can help make you feel less alone and allows the group to support each other. Or you could join a forum or group on social media to find other parents in a similar situation.

Take some time for yourself

Parenting is a stressful, full-time job. And when your child has food allergies, it can be even harder. But it’s important to have time for yourself, free of anxiety, enjoying your favourite activities. 

Spend time with friends, go to restaurants you can’t take your child to, and try to unwind. But if you plan on going to a restaurant your child can’t eat at, consult their allergist before to be certain it’s safe.

Try not to be so hard on yourself

People make mistakes. We’re only human. If you accidentally expose your child to an allergen, it isn’t your fault. It’s impossible to remember every single food that may contain an allergen. 

Chewing gum, for example, can contain milk, as can margarine, crisps and hotdogs. Allergens are found in more products than you would have guessed. So try to take some of that burden off your shoulders. In a similar vein to the first tip, try to share the responsibility with others. The child’s other parent, your family, a close friend – someone who can work with you.

Having a child with a food allergy isn’t easy. And it’s a constant stress in your life. But there are steps you can take to make it that bit easier and help you realise you aren’t alone.

Does your child suffer from food allergies? Get in touch with the London Allergy and Immunology Centre. Our experts can help you manage your child’s allergies and regain control of your life. Get in touch with us now on 02031 433 449.

Four facts you should know about allergies in children

3rd March 2021

Four facts you should know about allergies in children 

With allergies on the rise, plenty of new parents will worry about their children. And there will always be a small subsection that tells you not to worry, it’s all overblown. People believe that because children can potentially outgrow allergies and because not all allergies are deadly, there’s no real cause for concern. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Allergies can seriously impact people’s lives and can even create lasting damage if untreated. Here are four facts about allergies in children that you should know.

Allergies are on the rise

Allergies are becoming more common. Children are more likely than ever to develop food allergies. Allergies being so common might be part of why people believe concerns are overblown, but there’s no reason to suggest this makes allergies less dangerous. 

In fact, one in four with a food allergy, even a mild one, will experience a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.

You don’t always grow out of them

While it’s possible to outgrow allergies, it’s not always the case. Teenagers needing hospital treatment for their allergies went up 65% over 5 years. This statistic highlights the tragic effects allergies can have on young people and why allergies need to be taken seriously.

Allergies can affect children’s quality of life

One study showed that children with hay fever symptoms received lower grades than their peers. Allergies can also affect children’s mental health. Children with food allergies may avoid socialising or food in the future to avoid feeling left out. Allergies can also affect physical health by making asthma and eczema worse.

Allergies can be life-threatening

In severe allergy cases, anaphylaxis can occur. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction. It’s characterised by the tightening of the throat, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, and other terrifying symptoms. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and can be fatal if left untreated.

If you think your child has an allergy, don’t just shrug it off. Allergies can greatly impact your life, worsening existing conditions, affecting mental health, and can also be life-threatening. Allergies need to be addressed to ensure your child has the most comfortable time possible.

If you think your child has an allergy, book them in for a test. Register as a new patient here and book online today or call London Allergy and Immunology Centre 02031 433 449.

The number of children needing hospital treatment for allergies is rising

29th January 2020

The number of children needing hospital treatment for allergies is rising

Allergies aren’t a new phenomenon. However, their prevalence is on the rise. According to Benadryl, there are 21 million adults with allergies in the UK and the figure is rising by 5% each year. Around 7% of children have food allergies and this number is on the rise. 

The causes of allergies

Our understanding of what causes allergies is growing, but there are still many questions we need to answer. Scientists say it could be down to a combination of factors, including:

• Genetics
• Being too clean
• Diet during pregnancy
• Pollution

However, none of these theories can explain the prevalence of all allergies or the increase at present. 

Increasing hospital visits

The number of children who received hospital treatment for their allergies has increased by 65% across England. In 2013/14, 2,873 teenagers needed treatment. In 2017/18, this rose to 4,743. As well as this, the number of children being treated for anaphylactic shock has increased by 41% in the past five years. 

Is it more dangerous?

The large increase in hospital treatments largely affected teenagers. Allergy professionals speculated this is a time where parental control became increasingly relaxed as children grew up. They might not question their food in the same their way parents did. However, it’s hard to ignore the incidents where children with allergies are being endangered through no fault of their own. 

In 2017, a schoolboy died after having a severe reaction to cheese which was thrown at him in school. Children have reported being scared to go to school because of classmates and teachers who don’t take their allergies seriously. Some parents have taken their children out of school believing the schools aren’t doing enough to safeguard the children. 

This lack of understanding can be fatal and there needs to be a focus on allergy education in schools if we want to keep more children safe. This will be especially important if the number of allergy-related hospital visits keeps rising.

The London Allergy and Immunology Centre helps give children and parents peace of mind by diagnosing allergy symptoms and providing expert treatments and preventative methods. We want to help remove the burden of allergies, so book an appointment today.

Are nut allergy risks over-exaggerated for children?

22nd January 2020

Are nut allergy risks over-exaggerated for children?

Allergies are scary when we look at the statistics. In the UK, peanut allergies affect around one in 50 children but they have been increasing over the last few decades. But these children with existing peanut allergies are also at increased risk of developing tree nut allergies with a likelihood of around 30-40%.  

We know these allergies can be severe, causing anaphylaxis. With the high number of people living with nut allergies, it’s easy for many to be wary of the harmful effects of an allergic reaction. These severe reactions lead to a lot of concern among parents and caregivers for children. But are the risks of nut allergies a little overblown in the UK?

Low risk of fatality

Despite the severity of anaphylaxis, deaths from food allergies in children and adults are very rare in the UK. There are an average of ten deaths per year from food-related anaphylaxis including both children and adults. That includes all food, not only nuts. In the UK, the most common cause of death in children aged 1 to 14 years is cancer, accounting for around 250 deaths per year.

The risk of complications

When we compare the numbers, it may seem as if allergy risks are overblown. However, even though an allergic reaction to nuts may not often result in a fatality, it can still lead to severe problems and hospitalisation. 

An anaphylactic shock can obstruct airways and cause blood pressure to drop. Without prompt treatment, it can leave people with brain damage from the lack of oxygen. It can even be so severe as to cause a coma. 

Allergies are serious

It’s no wonder many children and parents live their lives in a state of anxiety because of a nut allergy. They are serious and can cause life-altering conditions, if not death. We don’t blow the risks from nut allergies out of proportion in the UK. 

If anything, we need better awareness in schools and among caregivers to safeguard more children from the risk of anaphylaxis. However, with the right treatment and prevention methods, you can easily minimise the risks to a child with a nut allergy, allowing them to enjoy their childhood and live life to the full. 

All you need to do is to book an appointment with one of our specialist consultants. They can test you or your child for allergies and advise you on the best treatments to put your mind at ease. If you would like, you can book an appointment here.

How to keep children with allergies safe this Halloween

30th October 2019

How to keep children with allergies safe this Halloween

It’s easy to underestimate how life-changing allergies can be. Their impact can range from simple inconvenience to fatality. And as a parent nothing can be more worrying than an allergy condition in your child. Allergies can cause children to miss out on exciting parts of childhood that their allergy-free friends may love. Sleepovers, birthday parties, and as Halloween comes around, trick-or-treating. 

The Teal Pumpkin Project

For some children, all it takes is one sweet to trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction. The Teal Pumpkin Project was started in the US by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). It has since spread across the Atlantic to help children with allergies enjoy the magic of Halloween. 

A teal pumpkin on a doorstep or on display in a window means the household is offering non-food Halloween treats like glow sticks, stationary, or small toys. All you need to do is get a real or false pumpkin and paint it teal if you want to participate. 

Tips for an amazing allergy-free Halloween

There are plenty of things you can do to make Halloween more inclusive for children with allergies, like:

• Adding your name to the Teal Pumpkin Project participation map
• Getting the children involved in creating teal pumpkins
• Getting your hands on some great food-free trick-or-treat items 

If you need some ideas, you could buy some spooky toys, stationery, beads, glow sticks, stickers, temporary tattoos, masks, or any other fun items you find in your local pound shop. You can even make your own gifts like Halloween rock monsters. 

There are also steps you can take to minimise the chances of your child coming into contact with an allergen. For example:

• Making gloves a part of their Halloween costume so they’re not putting their hands directly into contact with allergens
• You can avoid trick-or-treating, instead involving children in decorating the house to be as spooky as possible 
• Have them take part by handing out non-food items to trick-or-treaters who come knocking
• At the end of the night, go through your child’s sweets and remove anything that is unsafe, trading them for a toy instead. 

No child should have to miss out on fun events because of their allergies. As the world becomes more educated about allergy dangers, solutions like the Teal Pumpkin Project are becoming more popular and inclusive. We hope you have a safe, happy Halloween!

If yours or your child’s allergies are taking a toll on your quality of life, it’s important to seek expert advice. The consultants at the London Allergy and Immunology Centre use the most advanced tests and treatments to get you back on track. You can book an appointment here or call us on 0207 034 8098.

Are food allergy concerns for our children exaggerated?

28th March 2019

Are food allergy concerns for our children exaggerated?

In 2006, child health experts Allan Colver, from the University of Newcastle, and Jonathan Hourihane, from University College York, went head to head to debate whether the dangers of food allergies in children were exaggerated.

Since 2006, childhood allergies have been on the rise. In 2018, around 7% of children had a food allergy. However, experts claim that food-allergy-related deaths are still rare. Food allergies are not the leading cause of death for people with them, so why all the concern?

Food for thought

Professor Colver said that we often think food allergies are more frightening and dangerous than pneumonia, asthma, or diabetes. However, ONS data shows that between 2012 and 2016, just five child deaths were traceable to food allergies. In fact, data shows that the leading cause of death in children is cancer, accounting for over 20% of childhood deaths.

Colver argued that increasing prescription of emergency prophylaxis to children fuels anxiety. This creates the perception that food allergies pose a greater risk to children than data suggests.

On the other hand

But Professor Hourihane argued that there’s no evidence to suggest that the prescription of prophylaxis medication increases anxiety and they’re an essential part of allergy management, helping to keep risk low in children with allergies. You could also blame the media for why some people believe the risk of food allergies to children is high.

News stories about this topic are becoming more common. There was 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who suffered a fatal reaction to a baguette from Pret a Manger. In 2018, a 13-year-old boy died after coming into contact with cheese at school. With the rise in social media, we’re not just limited to stories from the UK, but globally. This may make the incidents of allergy-related deaths in children seem more concerning. Especially when we look at the global population of children (around 1.9 billion).

From this, we could reasonably suggest that the fatal risk of food allergies to children is low. However, this is likely a result of the healthcare, education, and legislation put in place to protect children in the UK. Other countries may not follow the same laws or have the same level of healthcare available to vulnerable children. It’s why we still need to do our best to raise awareness of the dangers of food allergies in children.

If you’re worried that your child suffers from an allergy, get in touch with the experts at London Allergy and Immunology Centre on 020 314 334 49. We can test for over 100 allergies at a time and provide the best treatment for them, so don’t wait.

Identifying and preventing allergies in infants

12th August 2018

Identifying and preventing allergies in infants

The BSACI Paediatric Allergy Group (PAG) and the Food Allergy Specialist Group (FASG) of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) have developed guidance to identify allergies in higher risk infants and advice in early prevention of allergies. To find out more about prevention according to the new guidelines, keep reading.

Prevention

The BSACI has outlined a summary for parents to minimise the risk of allergies. The guide advises that prevention start from 6 months of age onwards.

6 months

Studies show that infants not breastfed were 3.6 times more likely to be hospitalised compared to those who exclusively breastfed for four months or more. Their recommended course of action goes like this:

• Exclusive breastfeeding for around the first 6 months of life.
• From around 6 months of age (but not before 4 months), introduce complementary foods (solids) – including foods known to cause food allergies – alongside continued breastfeeding.
• Excluding egg and peanut from your baby’s diet is not strictly necessary as it is likely to increase the risk of food allergy.

Studies show that despite the relatively early introduction of solid foods, consumption of peanut and hen’s egg during infancy is not common practice with 73% of infants consuming less than one or no eggs per week; with 98% of infants consuming less than or no nuts.

Complementary foods should be pureed and offered in small amounts of vegetables, fruit, starchy foods, protein, and pasteurised dairy. Do not add salt or sugar.

Next step

Signs your baby is ready for solid foods include:

• Being able to sit relatively unaided in a high chair, with their head steady.
• Trying to reach out to grab food and put in their mouth.
• Loss of the “tongue-thrust” reflex – babies who aren’t ready push the food back out with their tongue, so they get more around their face than they do in their mouths.

High risk

Babies who suffer from eczema are likely to be at a higher risk of allergies*. The BSACI advise that you should introduce egg and/or peanut earlier on in their diet (4 months of age), followed by other foods known to cause food allergies.

The benefits of allergy testing in higher-risk babies before introducing egg or peanut needs to be balanced against the risk this could cause a delay (due to lack of available testing) and increase the risk of food allergy.

*Some babies will already have food allergies, especially those with severe eczema. The risk of a severe reaction (anaphylaxis) is low (1-2 per 1000 in these babies). Speak to your healthcare professional before introducing egg and peanut if your baby has severe eczema.

Guide to egg and peanut

• Egg – choose British lion-stamped eggs. Aim to give your child one egg over the course of the week.
• Peanut – never give your baby whole nuts – make sure you chop them finely. The guide advises that you use smooth peanut butter, “puffed peanut” snacks or grind whole peanuts to a fine powder. Mix with pureed fruits/vegetables, yoghurt, porridge, baby cereals etc.

It can be a scary time in your life when you find out your child has food allergies. You worry the future will be filled with anxiety, but that doesn’t mean you and your child can’t live a normal life.

These guidelines are for infants who’s allergies have not yet been diagnosed. If you think your little one might have an allergy and would like further testing, get in touch today to book an appointment. To find out more about the BSACI, click here.

Food allergies and intolerance in infants

1st August 2018

Food allergies and intolerances in infants

Food allergies can cause a lot of worry, especially when you have to send your child off to school. These allergies are not always easy to spot, but it isn’t impossible.

The first step to take is to identify whether your child is suffering from an intolerance or allergy. Physical reactions such as bloating to specific foods aren’t uncommon. They are likely to be considered an intolerance rather than an allergy. Both can have similar symptoms which is why they are often confused.

Allergies are characterised as being life-threatening and occur when the body’s immune system perceives a specific food as harmful, leading to an allergic reaction. Whereas intolerances are less severe and often will only cause issues such as stomach pains or nausea; this is usually a result of the body not being able to digest certain foods or the digestive system reacting to the food and becoming irritated as a result.

Dietary alternatives

If your child is intolerant, then they may be able to consume minimal amounts of the food they are sensitive to without too much discomfort. You can swap out foods for alternatives, such as oat milk instead of dairy milk. Ask your doctor for help in aiding your digestion, as well as seek medical help for any underlying health issues that are causing the sensitivity.

Early intervention

The BSACI’s Paediatric Allergy Group (PAG) and the Food Allergy Specialist Group (FASG) of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) have developed guidance to identify allergies in higher risk infants and advice in early prevention of allergies.

They suggest that you introduce a variety of vegetables, fruit, starchy foods, protein, as well as pasteurised dairy into your child’s diet as early as six months old. Including foods commonly associated with allergies such as egg and peanuts. It’s also worth noting that babies who suffer from eczema are at a higher risk of food allergies.

Symptoms

The guide states that there are two categories to be aware of:

• Immediate – typically happens within 30 minutes of consuming the food.
• Delayed – occurs hours after the dietary trigger.

Immediate symptoms include:

• Swollen lips, face or eyes
• Itchy skin rash
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting

Rarer symptoms include:

• Swollen tongue
• A persistent cough
• Difficulty in breathing or heavy breathing
• Unresponsiveness

Delayed symptoms include:

• Persistent abdominal pain, vomiting
• Food refusal or aversion
• Frequent stools, constipation
• Skin redding or itch over the body

If your child suffers from eczema, an allergy can make the eczema flare up and worsen.

Testing

Intolerances can be diagnosed by the exclusion of products one by one, with further reintroduction in a blinded manner, confirming the absence and return of the symptoms. Our clinic can test for allergies in children. We can give dietary advice after doing one or more of the following tests:

• Skin prick test with commercially available food extracts
• Prick to prick test with fresh or cooked food
• Challenge test with food in a safe hospital environment
• Blood test Specific IgE to food
• Biochip – molecular method of Specific IgE detection Immunocap ISAC

If you find that your child is experiencing any of the symptoms listed in this blog, get in touch with us today on book an appointment with one of our consultants to take the first steps to preventing their discomfort.