• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • 5 Reasons to Use a VPN in HK
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
        • Money - for article on financial habits and wealth management5 Steps for setting realistic financial goals
        • Hong Kong People: Meet Amy Elkhoury
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • What's on in Hong Kong - Art Central 2022Top 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop beaches in Hong Kong
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • Filling the learning gap in the COVID recovery
        • Cambridge education at CDNIS - Students on the summer learning programmeGet a Taste of a Cambridge Education in HK!
        • Bottle-feeding a baby - when is the right time to introduce a bottle?“When can I give a bottle to my baby?”
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • Asian furniture and home décor - Altfield swirl vases7 must-have Asian classic pieces
        • Children's books author Bhakti Mathur in hr home on the Peak Hong KongA writer’s retreat on The Peak
        • Causeway Bay apartment home makeover - Christina Standaloft and partnerSpace-savvy Causeway Bay home makeover
        • Home furniture and décor in Hong Kong - Altfield InteriorsHome news: décor, furniture & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
        • Mount KinabuluClimbing Mount Kinabalu in Sabah
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop beaches in Hong Kong
        • Considering moving to Singapore for your next expat post?
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Salted Vanilla Caramel Ice Cream Balls Recipe
        • Baan Thai restaurant in Hong Kong, Thai foodTaste Test: Thai food in Hong Kong
        • Hong Kong People: Meet Amy Elkhoury
        • Harbourside Grill5 Dining discoveries in Hong Kong
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Best foundationsFab foundations for hot climates
        • Tried and Tested: Lip glosses and lip liners
        • Teenager having a facialWhen is it time for your first facial?
        • Stretch mark treatmentHow to get rid of stretch marks
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • Menstrual cupsHave you considered a menstrual cup?
        • 6 stages of life where family medicine matters
        • pregnancy - for web article on common problems in pregnancy and how to relieve symptoms10 common problems in pregnancy & how to help
        • Cup of tea - Tips for taking care of yourself from MindnLifeAre you taking care of yourself?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
      • Magazine
      • Advertise With Us
        • March-May2022
        • March-May2022
        • March-May 2022 Issue – $36 (Free Shipping)
        • SALE! ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION PRINT & DIGITAL BUNDLE – $128 (USUAL $192.00)
      • View all
    Close

How to deal with food allergies in kids

28 April, 2021 by Expat Living 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/food-allergies-in-kids-children-symptoms-bupa/

It seems to be increasingly common that your kids, or the children of someone you know, may have food allergies. Here we talk to LUCY BROWN, paediatric nurse, mum of two, and Head of Clinical Leadership and Engagement at Bupa UK about food allergies in kids – what they are, what are the symptoms, and what you can do.

What is a food allergy?

If your child has a food allergy, it means their body’s immune system reacts differently to certain foods. Although the food may be safe to eat, the body wrongly sees some proteins in the food as something harmful and produces an antibody in response.

Food allergies in children are quite common – increasingly so. (One theory for this rise is that children aren’t as exposed to bugs as their parents once were, and so their immune system doesn’t get the chance to develop as well.) It’s estimated that around five in every 100 children may have one.

Your child may be more likely to develop a food allergy if:

  • there’s a family history of food allergies;
  • they have other allergies like hay fever;
  • they have other medical conditions such as eczema or asthma.

child allergies

What are the symptoms of food allergies in kids?

Children react in different ways, and some symptoms are more severe than others, but there are some classic symptoms to watch for:

  • A runny, blocked or itchy nose.
  • Sore, red, swollen or itchy eyes.
  • Sneezing.
  • Itchy or swollen lips, mouth, tongue and throat.
  • Finding it harder to breathe or talk.
  • Diarrhoea, feeling sick or vomiting.
  • Wheezing, a cough, noisy breathing, or shortness of breath.
  • A skin reaction, for example hives (itchy bumps on your skin), a rash or flushed skin.
  • Feeling bloated (swollen abdomen).

What should I do if I suspect my child has a food allergy?

First, avoid giving them the food you think caused it; they also shouldn’t have any similar foods (for example, nuts if you think a peanut caused the reaction). Record their symptoms for the next 24 hours and follow up by keeping a food and symptoms diary for at least two weeks. This can help to identify if symptoms are triggered by certain foods. Your GP will be able to review the diary in more detail and may decide to arrange further tests.

If at any point your child has a severe reaction, such as finding it hard to breathe, wheezing or their mouth or lips begin to swell, then seek medical attention immediately.

How can my child be tested for a food allergy?

Your GP may refer your child to a specialist who can do a simple blood test or a skin-prick test for the IgE antibody that’s responsible for triggering an allergic reaction. If there’s a clear history of reaction to an obvious food trigger, a blood test can be useful to confirm a diagnosis. Unfortunately, this test can be unreliable, so it’s only useful if your child has very clear symptoms.

If the diagnosis is unclear, the doctor may arrange for a skin-prick test, where small amounts of the suspected allergen are placed on your child’s skin. Their skin is then pricked with a needle and any reaction is monitored for the next 15 to 20 minutes.

Will my child grow out of their food allergy?

Some mild food allergies can resolve themselves by school age as a child’s digestive system develops – allergies to cow’s milk, wheat, soya or eggs, for example. However, if you’re thinking of reintroducing trigger foods into your child’s diet, it’s important to ask and follow the advice of a healthcare professional or qualified dietitian first.

If your child has a more severe food allergy, such as nuts or shellfish, they’re unlikely to outgrow this.

This article was brought to you by Bupa Global.

bupaglobal.com | 2531 8562 | globalplanhk@bupa.com

Disclaimer: This article was designed and produced by Bupa Global by searching internal and external data and information for information provision and reference purposes only. Any views or information mentioned and set out in this article/webpage are based on general situations. Readers should not regard them as medical advices or medical recommendations. Before making any decisions about the theme of this article, you are recommended to seek independent advice from suitable professionals (such as doctors, nutritionists, etc.). It is clearly stated that Bupa Global will not bear any responsibilities for others’ usage or interpretation of the information listed in this article. When preparing and/or updating this article, Bupa Global endeavours to ensure that the content is accurate, complete and updated but will not bear any responsibilities nor make any warranty or guarantee for the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of the information or for any claims and/or losses caused thereby.


See more in our
Health & Fitness section

Categories: Health & Fitness Medical & Dental Tags: Allergy BUPA Bupa Global Children's Health Food allergy Health Insurance Insurance Medical

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our bimonthly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

You May Also Like

Children's teeth and braces, advice from Hong Kong orthodontist Dr Derek Baram

Kids and braces – all you need to know

Best running shoes for women and men Hong Kong

Trainers, Sneakers, Runners – Reviewed!

Health insurance for women

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.