A life threatening allergic condition, if ever there was one, is anaphylaxis. The symptoms of anaphylaxis include breathlessness, dizziness, palpitations, hives and a host of other symptoms including skin rashes and eruptions. There is no worse nightmare for a parent or any onlooker to watch a child suffer an episode of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be triggered by common allergens such as insect bites, food ingredients, and even some medications. Anyone suffering an attack of anaphylaxis should be rushed to a hospital immediately.

Most people suffering from allergies to food do not suffer conditions as severe as Anaphylaxis. If your child suffers from the condition it will prove to be a great investment for you to educate yourself about all the things that can trigger  anaphylaxis. This will help you have a peace of mind and allow your child to avoid the things you can cause an attack of anaphylaxis.

It is believed by researchers that at least six million Americans alone suffer from food allergies. This is believed to be a genetic disorder and so the possibilities of a child developing an allergy to some food or the other is five times greater if either of the parents have suffered food allergies at some point in time. Unfortunately food allergies develop more in children that it does in adults. Perhaps this is because as we grow our system grows immune to a lot of allergens. Between eight to six percent of infants below the age of two are allergic to some food or the other.

Though it is reported that any form of food can cause allergies the most allergic reactions are caused by one of the eight foods known as the ‘big eight’. These eight allergy causing foods include milk and milk products, fish, eggs, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and wheat. A third of Americans alter their diet because they or a loved one is allergic to some food or the other. It must be pointed out that a food intolerance is not the same as a food allergy.

If you suspect that you or your child is suffering from certain food allergy it may be wise to determine what kind of food is causing the allergy. This can be done through a test called a RAST. This is an acronym for Radio Allergo Sorbent Test. This is a blood test to determine the quantity of antibodies. against a specific allergen. It is usually ordered by a physician. This test does not pinpoint the cause of an allergy but indicates if an allergic reaction has produced IgE antibodies (antibodies or protein that indicated allergic reaction). This is a protein that is produced by the white blood cells in the body. When these antibodies are produced in adequate quantities an allergic reaction is triggered.

If you have a child who is allergic to some food the future is optimistic. There are greater chances that the child will out grow the allergy if allergy is secondary to milk, soy or eggs. However, should the condition persist it will be manageable and with the proper care and support the child will learn to avoid the allergens causing the condition. Allergies are not to be looked upon as a handicap. They are a part of a child’s genetic variation just like brown or blue eyes. Learning to feed the child is a team effort everyone concerned with the child should participate including dietician, pediatrician and immunologist.