A food allergy is an immunologic reaction of the body when an individual is hypersensitive to a particular food protein. Research shows that 5-8 percent of young children have some variation of this condition. Here's our guide to cooking children's food for a family with food allergies.

Allergies

The number of children with food allergies has recently grown roughly in proportion to the growing availability of mass-produced foods. There is a wealth of information and resources available to parents concerned about their child, including hundreds of specialised books. The choice can be a little overwhelming, and it can be hard to know where to turn.

Consider the following tips if you're concerned about your child's allergies, and are interested in finding out more.

How to get an overview

Overview books are very useful and can acquaint parents with the basics they need to know before they move deeper. Lots have very detailed knowledge. Know a useful book by the strength and length of its deifinition of 'allergy'. The clearer the better. Having a clear understanding yourself will help when attempting to explain to your children why certain things must be banned.

What to look out for

When reading, pay particular attention to sections detailing the signs and symptoms of food allergy in children. Try to know them as well as possible, so that you cna recognise them whenever they appear. A good book should include general signs and symptoms as well as specialised ones. It must also include details of short-term cures to these symptoms, some of which can be quite affecting.

Types of food allergy in children

The major types of food allergy in children differ from those in adults. For quick reference, the makor children's allergies are listed below:

• Milk - considered to be a common allergen in children, especially infants
• Peanut - the reaction to this allergy is sever, and can be life-threatening if not treated. Very serious in children with existing asthma
• Egg - triggering of egg allergies may spark other illnesses in children, such as asthma and nasal problems
• Seafood - hypersensitivity to fish and shellfish, with a range of results
• Wheat - can be quite serious, and lead to physical results, although some children grow out of this allergy
• Soy - this is said to be the least dangerous allergy, causing only mild external symptoms.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

It is important for food allergy books to discuss apt diagnosis, treatment and prevention for children.

There are several methods to diagnose the presence of food allergy to children. These include close observation of symptoms, dietary tests, skin-prick tests and blood tests.

Studies show that the only way to fully prevent food allergies is to eliminate triggers and allergens from the sufferer's life. When accidentally consumed, or accessed, allergens can be treated with drugs, but these are not readily available to the general public, and are only used in serious situations.

Food Recipes

Parents are sometimes anxious that their children may not be getting the recommended amount of nutrition due to their allergies. However, there are means and ways to deal with this. Certain food substitutes and replacements can provide the same vitamins and minerals as those that they replace, and vitamin pills can also be taken.

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