A food allergy involves a person’s immune system reacting to a specific kind of food or food component in such a way that potentially deadly allergy symptoms are triggered. Food allergies are more common in children than they are in adults, with about 6 to 8 percent of young children suffering from the condition. The treatment of food allergies involves the complete elimination of the problem food from the diet.

Children who are severely sensitive to a food should be aware of the potentially deadly condition known as anaphylactic shock. An allergic child can have an anaphylactic reaction after consuming even a tiny portion of a food allergen. The parents and the child should know how to deal with this condition, should it occur. Anaphylactic shock is treated with an injection of epinephrine.

The most common food allergies in children are cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy and  tree nuts. Sesame is also a common food allergen among children. Reactions to eating these allergens can include itchiness, runny nose, hives, headache, vomiting and shortness of breath.

Physicians can use a variety of tests to determine whether a child is sensitive to a particular food. After the problem food is determined, children should completely remove the food from their diet. This requires a great deal of effort on the part of the parents and the child. Parents, child and caregivers will need to learn the alternate names of problem foods. All should also become comfortable with checking food ingredient labels, restaurant food preparation policies and school cafeteria menus. Alternate sources of nutrition may be necessary as well.

Most children outgrow their allergies by about the age of 10. Allergic reactions to peanuts and seafood are less likely to go away as the child grows older. Children and adults should never attempt to eat a food to which they were once allergic without consulting a physician.

Generally, children who come from families that have a history of allergies are more likely to develop food allergies. For this reason, mothers with a family history of allergies may need to follow special instructions through the first few years of their child’s life.

Many physicians recommend breastfeeding exclusively through the first year of life to limit exposure to allergens. After the child’s immune system has matured, foods that are potential allergens can be introduced gradually. Nursing mothers also need to eat conscientiously, as they can pass along food allergens to their children through breast milk.

Some children who appear to suffer from a food allergy actually have food intolerance, which is much more common and usually not as severe. With a food intolerance, the body usually lacks a specific enzyme needed to break down a substance (such as lactose in milk intolerance or gluten in gluten intolerance). Allergies, while often producing similar symptoms as food intolerances, actually involve the immune system’s response to a perceived danger and the production of histamines. Though a food allergy can be deadly, a food intolerance is generally not as dangerous.