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Allergies & Daycare

Allergies & Daycare

Planning and communication are the keys to a successful childcare partnership, especially if your little one has a food allergy. The first day of nursery or daycare can be an anxious time for parents; after all, there's a lot to consider and arrange to make sure everything goes smoothly. Add a food allergy to the mix, and it’s easy to see how it can all seem quite daunting!
 
The good news is that with a bit of careful planning, it doesn’t have to be so hard. Here are some useful tips to help make this new start easier for everyone.
 
Before the first day
 
It's a good idea to meet with your new caretaker/s to tell them about your child’s allergy. This allows both you and them to ask any questions you might have.
 
You may want to ask the following:
 

  • Are the staff/caretakers trained in dealing with allergies (and/or using adrenaline if needed)?
  • Who is in charge of what your child will be eating, and can changes be made to this if needed?
  • Can you provide your child with food from home? Do other children bring in foods from home (which might contain allergens)?
  • Do the children handle food as part of play or learning? If so, how can this be kept safe for your child?
  • if your child needs to go to hospital, do they have a procedure to follow, and what is it?

You also may want to provide the nursery or caretaker with some information about your child and their allergy so that they can prepare. This might include:

  • A photo of your child so that it can be put with their medical records; if your child is attending a large nursery, this will help make sure staff can put a face to the name and avoid mix-ups.
  • Details of what symptoms your child might show if he or she is exposed to an allergen, and instructions on how to deal with these symptoms, including what medication should be given if needed.
  • Up-to-date contact information in case of an emergency.

 The first day – and thereafter
 
Try not to be too nervous; nearly all nurseries and caretakers will have had previous experience caring for children with food allergies, and they will know what to do.
 
It may help to take along a list of foods/drinks your child can and can’t eat, and hand this to the caretakers or kitchen staff so that you can be sure they know what to avoid. If the nursery has a weekly meal plan, you may be able to look through it and see if the recipes can be easily adapted. If not, it may be easier for you to bring in food from home, if this is allowed.
 
If you are allowed to bring in food from home, try to keep this as varied and interesting as possible, so that your child doesn’t feel tempted to share someone else's snack!
 
Staying in touch
 
It's worth keeping in touch regularly with your child's main caretaker, so that they can let you know about any contact with an allergen, and you can let them know about any medication or changes in your child's symptoms. With good planning, there's no reason for a food allergy to keep your child from enjoying all the new and exciting experiences child care has to offer!
 
Free From Allergens
 
HiPP Organic milk formula supplements are formulated to be Free from harmful chemicals and common allergens. Free from synthetic pesticide residues, antibiotic residue, GMOs, growth-promoting hormones, added artificial sugars. Free from common allergens. No gluten, eggs, peanuts, soy, shell fruits, nuts and fish. 

Harvey Armstrong
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Testing for Allergies and Intolerances

Testing for Allergies and Intolerances

Wondering if your child has an allergy or intolerance can be stressful. During this time, you may be struggling to avoid certain foods in order to keep your child’s symptoms from getting worse. Here are some ways to find out if your child has a food allergy or intolerance —plus a few practical tips!
You might have heard that there are places which can test for allergies in one day. But are they worth using, and should you trust the results?
 
Many of these high street tests are based on complementary & alternative medicine and aren't supported by any scientific evidence. Unlike this, the tests your doctor will prescribe is proven  safer and effective. In the long term, avoiding lots of foods without any proof of an allergy could mean your little one isn't getting the right nutrition to grow up healthy.
 
Here are the tests which your doctor may request:
 

  • Skin prick test (SPT) – During this test, an allergist will place drops of solutions containing different potential allergens on the skin, then use a tiny lancet to prick through the solution and into the top layers of the skin. A few minutes later, the allergist will check to see whether the skin has reacted by swelling or turning red; this shows a specific type of allergy called an ‘IgE allergy’.
  • Blood tests (RAST or ‘specific IgE’ test) – This involves taking a blood sample and counting the number of ‘IgE’ antibodies it produces in response to the suspect food.
  • Food challenge – In this test, the allergist will place very small amounts of the suspect food in your child’s mouth and observe any symptoms (under medical supervision).
  • Food exclusion and reintroduction – This 'test' involves removing the suspect food from your child’s diet to see what effect this has on symptoms. If the symptoms improve, then your doctor may suggest re-introducing the food briefly to see if the symptoms return.

 
What are high street tests?
 

  • ‘IgG’ blood test is meant to measure the amount of ‘IgG’ the blood produces when exposed to a suspect food. ‘IgG’ is an antibody which sounds similar to the ‘IgE’ antibody involved in true allergies, but which is completely different. While it sounds a lot like the RAST/IgE tests mentioned above, this test is completely different. Levels of ‘IgG’ do not reflect an allergy, and they could even mask one.
  • Kinesiology (muscle testing) – This is based on a theory that certain foods can disrupt energy fields and cause muscle weakness. There is no scientific evidence to support this theory, and this test could result in many different foods showing ‘positive’ for an allergy.
  • Hair analysis – Testing a lock of hair in a laboratory to show heavy metal levels or nutrient deficiencies. Whilst these tests may well check these levels, they have no relation to whether someone has an allergy or not.
  • Leucocytotoxic test – This may sound scientific, however the process goes as follows: a blood sample is taken and the white blood cells are mixed with the allergen. If the white blood cells swell, practitioners say this indicates an allergy. However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that this test is at all accurate.
  • VEGA/Electrodermal test – This is based on a theory that electromagnetic currents in the body change when presented with a food that the patient is allergic to. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this test.
  • Others – Other analysis which might be offered include blood analysis ‘while you wait’, stool sample analysis and tests on urine and saliva.
  • Essentially, the decision you make about allergy testing is entirely up to you; however, consulting your doctor ensures you that you will only be treated by trained medical professionals, using techniques which have been thoroughly studied and have good quality evidence to show that they work.

 Free From Allergens HiPP Organic milk formula supplements are formulated to be Free from harmful chemicals and common allergens. Free from synthetic pesticide residues, antibiotic residue, GMOs, growth-promoting hormones, added artificial sugars. Free from common allergens. No gluten, eggs, peanuts, soy, shell fruits, nuts and fish.  

Harvey Armstrong
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Allergies and intolerances

Allergies and intolerances

Allergies and intolerances —there's a lot of about allergies and intolerances, and it can all get quite confusing. What's the difference between the two, and why does it matter?
 
Allergies and intolerances may seem similar, but they're actually quite different! It's a good idea to know which is which, and the table below will help explain the main differences between food allergies and intolerances. (Important note: this information is intended as advice only; if you think your child may have a food allergy or intolerance, you seek medical advice from your doctor right away.)

Food Allergy
Food Intolerance
What is it? An adverse immune response to a specific protein within a food. An adverse bodily response to a component within a food (not necessarily a protein) with no immune involvement.
Common or rare? Rare, but risk is higher in families with a history of allergy. Common or rare? Rare, but risk is higher in families with a history of allergy. More common than an allergy, but still unusual in children.
What causes it? The immune system thinks the protein in the food is harmful and reacts to it, causing symptoms (see below). There are a number of causes; sometimes a lack of enzymes means food can’t get digested, or sometimes foods can cause symptoms on their own.
Amounts A reaction can be caused by the smallest traces of the food. Usually a reaction only happens after consuming at least a teaspoon of the food.
Symptoms Redness, swelling, difficulty breathing, skin reactions including itching or urticaria (hives) and anaphylaxis, among others. Headache, bloating, stomachache, diarrhea, sickness. No anaphylaxis.
How is it diagnosed? Generally, looking at previous medical conditions to rule out other causes. Then either a skin prick test (SPT) or blood test (called a RAST) or skin patch test (performed by a your doctor or allergist). How is it diagnosed? Generally, looking at previous medical conditions to rule out other causes. Then either a skin prick test (SPT) or blood test (called a RAST) or skin patch test (performed by a your doctor or allergist). Could involve looking at previous medical conditions and ruling out other causes. Then either keeping a food and symptom diary, or trying an ‘exclusion diet’ where foods are avoided and then re-introduced to see if they cause symptoms.
Is there a cure? Avoiding the food completely is the only treatment – however, some children do ‘grow out’ of their allergies. If the intolerance is severe the food may need to be avoided for life, or limited to small amounts.
How is it managed? For some, mild symptoms can be controlled with anti-histamines. You may need to keep adrenaline (an EpiPen) on hand if the allergy is severe. If the food is a major part of the diet, nutritional advice may be needed. Reintroduction of food may be performed under medical supervision to see if the allergy persists into adulthood. How is it managed? For some, mild symptoms can be controlled with anti-histamines. You may need to keep adrenaline (an EpiPen) on hand if the allergy is severe. If the food is a major part of the diet, nutritional advice may be needed. Reintroduction of food may be performed under medical supervision to see if the allergy persists into adulthood. If the food is a major part of the diet, nutritional advice may be needed. Adrenaline is not required. As some children can ‘grow out of’ food intolerances, reintroduction of food may be performed under medical supervision.

Allergy & Intolerance FAQs
 
What should I do if I think my child has an allergy/intolerance?
 
If you suspect that your child may have an abnormal reaction to a food, it's important to discuss it with your doctor right away. Sometimes what looks like an allergy or an intolerance might be something different, so you don’t want to take things out of your child’s diet until you're certain of the cause.
 
If the symptoms were obviously related to one specific food (for example, an egg) then it may be wise to avoid giving your child egg until you have a chance to speak to your doctor. Even if you do this and the symptoms stop, you should still book an appointment to see your doctor so you can have your concerns confirmed and properly diagnosed.
 
It may help you to write down what your child ate and exactly what happened so that you don’t forget anything which may be important when you see your doctor; this will also help them to make the right diagnosis.
 
What sorts of foods are likely to trigger an allergy?
 
Any food containing protein has the potential to trigger an allergy; however, there some are more common culprits than others, including peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish, cow’s milk, eggs, soya and wheat.
 
What sorts of foods are likely to cause intolerance?
 
We don't really know what makes a food likely to cause intolerance. However for some, dairy is the most common source. People with intolerance for dairy actually produce less of the enzyme the body needs to break down the food, which may lead to uncomfortable symptoms.
 
Free From Allergens
 
HiPP Organic milk formula supplements are formulated to be Free from harmful chemicals and common allergens. Free from synthetic pesticide residues, antibiotic residue, GMOs, growth-promoting hormones, added artificial sugars. Free from common allergens. No gluten, eggs, peanuts, soy, shell fruits, nuts and fish. 

Harvey Armstrong
Read more
Understanding Food & Allergies

Understanding Food & Allergies

Like it or not, allergies are a fact of life: around 1 in 4 people are affected by some form of allergy, and about half of those are children. An allergy is different to an intolerance, although the symptoms can be similar.
Some allergies (including food allergies) have a genetic link. This means that the tendency to have an allergy can be passed down from parent to child. If anyone in your immediate family has an allergic condition such as asthma, eczema, hay fever or food allergies, your child is more likely to have an allergy, too.
 
Of course, allergies aren't the end of the world, and your little one may very well not develop any at all —but if there is a history of allergy in the family, it makes sense to take a bit of extra care of their diet.
 
Handle with care
 
If you are concerned about possible allergies, it's best to avoid food that are considered high allergy risk: egg, wheat, mustard, sesame, celery, fish and shellfish. It is best to consult your pediatrician when it comes to introducing certain foods that your child needs for his/her natural growth and development.
 
Some safer, low allergy risk food include potatoes, starchy vegetables, rice, and soft fruits. These all have a low risk of triggering an allergy.
 
Another good tip (especially once you start to introduce some of the high allergy risk foods) is to introduce each new food on its own, and only add a new food every other day so that you can watch carefully for any signs of an allergy. This way, if you see any symptoms, you can be fairly sure which food is the culprit! Once you're sure a food is safe, you can start mixing different foods together.
 
Do you think your child has an allergy?
 
The possibility of your child becoming allergic might be a bit nerve-wracking at times, but having the right information on hand should help you feel more confident about how you can spot a food allergy. If you suspect your child is allergic to a certain food, make a note of any symptoms and consult your doctor right away before you offer that food again.
 
Free From Allergens
 
HiPP Organic milk formula supplements are formulated to be Free from harmful chemicals and common allergens. Free from synthetic pesticide residues, antibiotic residue, GMOs, growth-promoting hormones, added artificial sugars. Free from common allergens. No gluten, eggs, peanuts, soy, shell fruits, nuts and fish.
 
Harvey Armstrong
Read more