Symptoms of Severe Food Allergy

New research into food allergy is being carried out all over the world, and more is being discovered about the symptoms of severe food allergies.

Allergic reactions to food can be acute, for example severe breathing problems after a child eats a small fragment of peanut, egg or milk.

Allergic reactions can be delayed and can also occur in response to a wider range of other food proteins. An example would be a severe skin rash appearing even 3-5 days after a child has had a cup of cow milk or soy milk.

A summary of the type of symptoms that can occur in food allergy are listed in the table below:

The majority of these symptoms can be due to causes other than allergy. Suspected food allergy, needs to be investigated thoroughly. The doctor needs to exclude other possible medical problems and ensure that food allergy is the primary cause before altering the baby's formula or diet.

If your baby has allergic symptoms it is important to consult your doctor immediately. Keeping an accurate diary of your baby's diet and of any symptoms will help your health professional identify possible food reactions.