Food Allergens in Infants Under One Year: Which Foods Are Considered Allergenic

Food allergy is an abnormal immune reaction to food proteins: the immune system mistakenly takes them for dangerous. Food allergy also occurs in children. Let's figure out which foods are considered allergenic, what the reaction looks like, and when to see a doctor.

Which Foods Are Considered Allergenic: Main Food Allergens

The most common allergenic foods include cow's milk, chicken eggs, wheat, nuts, soy, peanuts, fish, and seafood. In Europe, this list also includes sesame, lupin, celery, mustard, and sulfites. In children, allergies are most often caused by chicken eggs and cow's milk, followed by foods commonly eaten in a particular country. So the "eight allergens" are a guide, not a rigid list: allergy is possible to any food. Allergy is more often diagnosed in boys, and the risk is higher if family members have allergic diseases.

Allergens Before One Year: How Allergy Differs from Intolerance

Food allergy is not intolerance. With intolerance, there are mainly bloating and abdominal pain a few hours after eating, and the immune system is not involved. Allergy symptoms may appear immediately after eating or after days. The risk is higher if the child or close relatives have allergy, asthma, or eczema. Some children outgrow food allergy.

Allergenic Foods During Breastfeeding

The list of common allergens (milk, eggs, nuts, and others) is given above. Removing a product from the diet without talking to a doctor is not recommended: the decision to exclude it is made by the doctor.

How Food Allergy Manifests in an Infant and a Child

Symptoms may affect different parts of the body at once. These are itchy skin or hives, swelling of the lips, face, and eyes, cough, wheezing, whistling or noisy breathing, hoarseness, sneezing, itching and nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness. In a baby, the reaction does not always look the same with each contact with the product. Symptoms usually begin within a few minutes to two hours after eating, and with different contacts with the product they may differ and depend on the amount eaten.

• Hives and itchy skin
• Swelling of the lips, face, eyes
• Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea
• Cough, wheezing, noisy breathing
• Sneezing, itching and nasal congestion

How Food Allergy Is Diagnosed in Children

The doctor asks about symptoms, family history, and other allergies, and examines the child. Next, skin tests, blood tests, a diagnostic elimination diet, and a food diary are possible. The most accurate test is an oral food challenge.

When to See a Doctor Urgently

For a routine question about suspected food allergy, see a doctor. A severe reaction is another matter.

Food allergy by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance; 103 or 112 — if the lips, mouth, throat, or tongue suddenly swell, breathing becomes rapid or difficult, a feeling of suffocation appears, the throat tightens or swallowing is difficult, the skin, tongue, or lips turn blue, pale, or gray, the child suddenly becomes very lethargic, drowsy, or does not respond as usual, or loses consciousness.

This material is for reference: it helps you get your bearings but does not replace a doctor's consultation — if in doubt, have your child examined by a specialist.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer