Sneaky Signs Of Food Allergies That Every Parent Should Know

When you think of your child having an allergic reaction to something they ate, if you are like most parents, you will conjure up images of your child with a swollen face or even unable to catch their breath. Thankfully, food allergies do not always cause such a dramatic reaction. In fact, it is not uncommon for a child to have a specific allergy for years before a parent is able to diagnose what is going on. There are a few common food allergy symptoms that you should get to know so you can be better prepared as a parent.

1. Upset Stomach - From vomiting and diarrhea to mild symptoms of a tummy that just doesn't feel good, food allergies commonly show up as an upset stomach. You may be quick to blame an upset tummy on something else, like a virus or too much candy, but in actuality, your child could be portraying symptoms of a food allergy. If an upset stomach happens often, start paying careful attention to what your child is eating when they start complaining. You may find that there is one type of food or ingredient that is causing the problem and this could point to an allergic reaction. 

2. Skin Rashes and Hives - Even though food is ingested and you may assume that skin irritation would not be a symptom of food allergies, your child could break out in hives if they eat something that does not agree with them. Food allergies can cause symptoms throughout the body, even on the skin. Any sign of welts, rashes, or swelling is a good reason to talk to an allergy physician for advice. 

3. Slight Coughing - If your child has a sudden dry cough that seems to carry on for a long period of time, it could be because they are having a slight difficulty with breathing. If your child has never had symptoms of allergies or asthma and is not sick, they should not be coughing when they try to breathe. Coughing could be a sign of bronchial swelling or inflammation that is preventing your child from taking full breaths when they inhale, and this is a telltale sign of having an allergic reaction to some food item.

Talk to an allergy physician like Bouboulis Denis A to see if these symptoms are a sign of something more serious, like a severe food allergy.