Studies show that food allergies are frequently diagnosed in children. If you suspect that your child has a

1. 3 Reasons to Get Your Child Tested
for Food Allergies

2. Studies show that food allergies are frequently diagnosed
in children. If you suspect that your child has a food allergy,
he or she should be tested by a doctor as soon as possible.
Testing is important because food allergies can be life-
threatening. An allergy test will help determine exactly
what foods your child needs to avoid and will help you to
be more prepared for an emergency.
Food allergies often cause extreme discomfort and can also
be life-threatening. They can be more dangerous than
other types of allergies because a very small amount of the
allergen can cause a fatal reaction.

3. Even the most careful parents can accidentally expose their
children to the wrong food due to inadequately labeled
packaging, cross contamination, or food residue on their
hands. In severe cases, anaphylax is may occur within a few
minutes or hours, causing respiratory or cardiovascular
issues.
When observing an allergic reaction in a child, some
parents believe they can quickly and correctly diagnose the
harmful food that caused the reaction. However, at times,
parents are mistaken and begin restricting a child's diet
unnecessarily.

4. They may even re-expose the child to the dangerous food
unknowingly. An allergist can properly diagnose the
allergen and choose the best intervention to help prevent
reactions. They use a number of methods to find the exact
cause of the reaction and will be able to determine the best
way to deal with it.
Getting your child checked for food allergies will also
determine the most effective way to handle exposure to the
allergen. For children with mild to moderate reactions,
doctors usually suggest oral and topical steroids or
antihistamines.

5. However, for severe reactions, like anaphylaxis, a doctor can
prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector and instruct parents
on how and when to use it. Additionally, a doctor can
provide parents with a written food allergy emergency plan
to inform them of what to do in case of a severe reaction.
This plan can also be given to family members, caregivers
and teachers so that all will understand how to properly
care for your child in case of a severe food allergy reaction.
Finding out your child has a food allergy can be stressful,
but the safest way to handle it is to have an allergy test
done.

6. Food allergies can be life-threatening, but an allergist can
properly diagnose the allergy and find effective ways to
counteract it. To find more information about a pediatric
allergy doctor in Apex, visit this site.