Parenta Magazine Issue 5 March 2015 2.4

Food allergies in
young children
By Katharine Tate
The Food Teacher, Katharine Tate, is an award winning nutritional therapist, she has founded The Food Teacher
brand that combines her passion for education and nutrition to deliver a healthy childhood, focusing on
promoting family health through food and lifestyle. For more information, visit her Facebook page, follow her
on Twitter or email her at thefoodteacheruk@gmail.com
Childhood allergy is becoming increasingly common in the UK, with 50% of children
being affected. Food allergy symptoms can be wide ranging and for many, they can be
life threatening (e.g. anaphylaxis). An awareness of symptoms is essential within all
childcare settings and an understanding of allergies and their management can help
teachers and parents work together. These factors can support a child’s development,
concentration and learning and can also reduce/eliminate opportunities for exposure.
What causes allergies?
Allergies are caused when the body reacts to an offending protein, triggering the
immune system to respond inappropriately every time there is exposure. Allergens
are the substances which trigger the body’s inappropriate reaction. As allergies
can be triggered by a range of different allergens, symptoms can present in a
whole host of different ways and may develop suddenly without any obvious cause.
Common allergens
The commonest allergens in children include peanuts, tree nuts, milk,
eggs, wheat, fish, pollens from tree and grasses, house dust mites
and insect stings.
Symptoms to note
The majority of symptoms are linked to areas of the body that come into
contact with the external environment as the cells which react to allergens
are found in these body tissues. Some common symptoms include watery,
tchy eyes, runny, blocked nose, swollen lips/tongue, wheezy breathing or
bumpy, itchy skin.
Allergy or Intolerance?
An allergy is very different to a food intolerance, which can be
a short-lived reaction to a specific food. Individuals with an
intolerance may be able to eat small amounts of the offending
food without the level of reaction of an allergy.
Impact of suffering from an allergy
The impact of an allergy can have a huge
effect on a child, especially as symptoms
may disrupt sleep and mood, which can
affect their development and concentration.
Strategies to support them within each
setting can be helpful.
Why is allergy becoming more prevalent?
Research suggests a range of factors may
relate to the rise in allergic conditions.
These include genetics: with 1 in 5 children
in the UK having a predisposition to
developing an allergy. The ‘clean’
environment children tend to live in
today which reduces their exposure to
micro-organisms and bacteria which help
to develop their immunity may also play a
role, with the lack of exposure potentially
unbalancing the immune response and
increasing the body’s drive to react to
allergens. Other factors could also include
potential nutrient deficiencies, which may
increase the risk of developing an allergy.
Current research is around vitamin D and
omega-3 fatty acids.
How can it be managed in
childcare settings?
1. Having agreed procedures and
paperwork in place of which all staff
are trained is vital (see Allergy UK for
an example document).
2. Reducing exposure, e.g. children with
asthma should not sit near an open
window in the summer, temperature of
the environment is key for children
with eczema.
3. As there is a strong genetic link, it is
useful to ask parents in your paperwork
if they have an allergy or have had one
in the past.
4. When cooking with children, always opt
for ingredients which don’t contain the
common allergens, e.g. bake with gluten
free flour, use seeds instead of nuts
in recipes.
5. For snack time - low allergenic foods
can be offered including fruit, wheat free
snacks, e.g. oatcakes, seeds, vegetables
and hummus.
Interesting developments
Ongoing research brings with it new
and innovative strategies for dealing with
allergy, which may help to control the rise
and find a resolution for many. Finding a
cure for allergies is hot topic, with
immunotherapy having had some success.
This involves controlled, gradual exposure
to the offending allergy under medical
supervision, which can modify the body’s
immune response to that of an intolerance
rather than an allergy. This is an area of
interest to watch out for as
research continues.