17 Serious Symptoms Of Food Allergy In Toddlers

Your toddler has now reached that stage where he can eat from the family pot. It is a big milestone for your toddler as he becomes more independent and enters a more manageable stage.

Just as you begin to relax and enjoy the fact that your child’s mealtime is no longer a chase, do you notice any health issues cropping up for your toddler? If your toddler has been showing symptoms of sudden cold, coughing, sneezing, developing rash soon after having meals, chances are he’s suffering from some type of food allergy.

What Is Food Allergy?

A food allergy is an allergic reaction that happens after eating a certain food. This could be restricted to a particular food or may be experienced on eating anything from a food group.

These reactions will be annoying and uncomfortable for your toddler. It may affect your toddler’s skin, his respiratory and gastrointestinal tract and in severe cases, even his cardiovascular system.

[ Read: Stomach Flu In Toddlers ]

Symptoms Of Food Allergy In Toddlers:

The symptoms of food allergy will often show up within minutes or a few hours of eating the food to which your toddler is allergic. As your toddler may not always be able to communicate his or her discomfort so the onus lies on you to watch out for the allergic reactions.

Here are some of the milder symptoms of food allergy that you may see in your toddler:

1. Redness of the skin, especially around the eyes
2. Stomach cramps
3. Diarrhea
4. Sneezing
5. Dry coughing
6. Redness and swelling of the skin with persistent itching
7. Dry itchy rashes
8. Itching in the mouth and mouth canal
9. Blocked nose

Here are some of the more serious symptoms of food allergies in toddlers:

10. Difficulty in breathing
11. Wheezing
12. Skin turning blue
13. Pain in the chest
14. Difficulty in swallowing
15. Severe swelling in the lips, tongue or in the throat
16. Weak pulse rate
17. Feeling immense weakness or even passing out

If your toddler shows any of the serious symptoms, or a mix of the serious as well as the mild symptoms, you need to rush your toddler to the nearest medical emergency facility immediately.

These symptoms, whether on their own or in combination, may be signs of anaphylaxis, which is a severe form of allergic reaction.

[ Read: Hives In Toddlers ]

How Should I Watch Out For Your Toddler Food Allergy?

Here are a few things you can keep in mind to help you spot any food allergy in your toddler:

• While introducing any new food to your toddler, ensure you do it for at least four to five days
• Give only one new food item in a day, this will help you observe your toddler better
• If you spot any allergy during this period, you will immediately know what food caused it
• In most cases, if you or the other parent is allergic to a certain food, your toddler will be at a higher risk of having the same food allergy
• If your toddler suffers from eczema or any other skin condition, the chances of having a food allergy will be higher than other toddlers

[ Read: Reflux In Toddlers ]

What Should I Do When My Toddler Has A Food Allergy?

Depending on when the symptoms are appearing, here are a few things you could do:

• If the food allergy has an immediate reaction, you will most probably know what caused it. It is best to avoid giving the same to your toddler until the doctor does a thorough check-up. If your toddler is having delayed allergic reactions and you cannot find out immediately as to what is causing it, try and stick to very light foods that your toddler has easily had in the past. See for a few days whether it causes any improvement.
• Start making a food diary and note down everything your toddler had as well as the day your toddler had a reaction. Keep a note of the food or food group your child is even mildly allergic to and strictly refrain your child from consuming it.
• In case of severe food allergic symptoms, do not delay in consulting a doctor.

Always remember that many foods that seem safe and are healthy may actually end up causing toddler food allergies. So it is important that you closely monitor what your toddler is eating. Also, give your toddler enough time to adjust to a particular food.

Did you face the problem of food allergy in toddlers? If yes, do share your experiences and tips here with other mommies.

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