Increases child allergy to nuts at Christmas
Cases of food allergy has doubled in the last ten years and currently affects 5 percent of the child population and 8 percent of adults. The arrival of Christmas is a propitious moment to take preventive measures against food allergies since a good part of these reactions are caused by nuts, an ingr
Cases of food allergy has doubled in the last ten years and currently affects 5 percent of the child population and 8 percent of adults.
The arrival of Christmas is a propitious moment to take preventive measures against food allergies since a good part of these reactions are caused by nuts, an ingredient that is not missing in most Christmas sweets.
Prevents children under 3 from trying nuts
Thus, pediatric allergists point out that it is important to avoid nuts before 3 years. However, many allergic children try these foods coinciding with the Christmas holidays and debutan at this time of year with reactions to try sweets with nuts.
Although it seems somewhat harmless, what many people do not know is that allergy to nuts is one of the most dangerous and persistent and that the highest consumption of sweets made with nuts at this time, increases the number of allergic reactions between the child population during Christmas.
Reactions that may develop in children with allergies to nuts after intake include hives, angioedema, asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, digestive symptoms or anaphylactic reactions. In some cases, if you do not act on time with rescue medication, the consequences can be fatal.
According to the results of the "EuroPrevall" study on food allergies, 35% of cases are caused by fresh fruits, 22% by nuts, 14% by vegetables and 8% by vegetables. cent for the peanut. For this reason, the Spanish Society of Clinical Immunology and Pediatric Allergy (SEICAP) warns that the greater consumption of sweets made with nuts, such as polvorones, marzipan, pasta and nougat, increases the number of allergic reactions between the child population during Christmas.
According to different studies, 3 to 8 percent of the child population is allergic to any food, a percentage that increases every year. During the Christmas season are more frequent meals or tastings away from home, as well as the consumption of sweets, snacks, dishes and sauces whose ingredients include these potential allergens, so pediatric allergists advise that, if there is already an allergy diagnosis food, it is advisable to exercise extreme vigilance over the composition of the food that children are given to taste.
On the other hand, children with egg or milk intolerance are more predisposed to suffer from other food allergies. If they have never tried nuts, experts recommend that they begin eating them in small quantities, preferably in a crushed form, and preferably at noon to observe the possible effects, because the symptoms can appear immediately. However, to be sure, before giving a child a food at home, it is advisable to make a diagnosis in a specialized pediatric allergology consultation: the best test to diagnose or rule out a food allergy is a controlled challenge test with the food.
Marisol Nuevo. Editor of Guiainfantil.com
