Dubai, UAE - Food allergies are common in children. 1 in 13 children have some type of food allergy, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. As a parent, implementing fact-based strategies to manage allergies in your child can be a great start to forming a healthy habit that’ll last a lifetime.

myPediaclinic, one of the best pediatric clinics in Dubai, guides parents with practical practices to prevent and manage food allergies in young children at home and if eating out. A pediatric nutritionist in myPediaclinic says “if a child reacts to a certain food, it doesn’t necessarily mean the child has a food allergy. They could be intolerant to certain foods.” A few symptoms of food allergy and food intolerance are similar, but the differences between the two are essential to know.

Food Allergy: The job of the body’s immune system is to fight infections. When a food allergen (substances in foods that cause allergic reactions) enters, the immune system sees it as an invader and overreacts to cause food allergy. Food allergy may occur in response to any food. Peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, shellfish, and soy are the most common causes of food allergies in children. Some children are allergic to more than one food. These foods aren’t allergenic by themselves, but the way your child’s immune system reacts to them is. Reaction to these can cause symptoms like swelling, coughing, hives, diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or a drop in blood pressure. Since these symptoms overlap with symptoms of other medical conditions, it is important to have your child's food allergy evaluated and confirmed with your pediatric nutritionist.

Food Intolerance: On the other hand, food intolerance, also known as food sensitivity, does not involve the immune system. It is a gastrointestinal reaction to certain foods and doesn’t cause severe allergic reactions. This means, either the food eaten might irritate the digestive system, or the body can’t digest the food or an ingredient in the food properly. Symptoms of food intolerance can include nausea, abdominal (belly) pain, gas and bloating, cramps, diarrhea, irritability, or headaches. The reactions may take hours or even days to show up. Common food intolerances in children include lactose or milk, gluten, certain fruits, and some vegetables.

Visit your child’s doctor and find out the foods to which your child is allergic or intolerant. The goal is to avoid those trigger foods.
Effective management: myPediaclinic recommends these best practices
1. Keep your relatives, babysitter, friends, teacher, and everyone who spends time with your child in the loop about your child’s allergies or intolerance. Educate them to dodge feeding your child problem-causing food.

2. Learn how to read food labels so that you can avoid buying packed food with ingredients your child is allergic to. Even if you've used a particular product before, ensure to read the label every time you buy it - sometimes the ingredients may change.

3. Be sure to enquire about the ingredients in the foods if you’re in a restaurant or buying food from an outside source.

4. Take care in preparing meals and try new recipes with different ingredients that are safe.

5. Serve your child with food on a clean table and utensils so that allergens are not passed to safe foods.

6. Most importantly, teach your child to manage their food allergies or intolerance. Start by teaching them to reach out for help if they feel uncomfortable after eating. For older children, teach them to read food labels.

7. While staying away from problem-causing food, your child may miss out on the nutritional value the food may otherwise provide. Therefore, it's important to find an alternative food source by discussing it with your child’s pediatrician.

If you suspect an allergy or intolerance, see your child’s pediatrician immediately. Though it can be tempting to search the internet for answers, consulting a pediatrician is the correct way to find adequate information and provide your child with the best treatment.

About myPediaclinic:
myPediaclinic provides multidisciplinary care, bringing together the expertise of Pediatrics, Pediatric Dentistry, Nutrition, and Orthodontics. With a team of experienced award-winning doctors in Dubai Healthcare City, myPediaclinic provides state-of-the-art treatment to young patients and has earned its name as the top pediatric centre in Dubai from its commitment to child-centered care - preferred by both parents and children.