Managing food allergy and food intolerance in infants

Between 5- 6 per cent of young children in the UK suffer from a food allergy, which appear to be becoming increasingly common.¹

Most serious food allergies start in infancy and early childhood and are usually caused by a relatively small number of foods. Though we tend to consider peanut allergy the most common, it is often foods such as milk and egg to which most infants and young children react.

Food allergy symptoms can vary from immediate IgE mediated reactions such as urticaria, angioedema, vomiting, wheezing, swelling of the lips and mouth, through to anaphylaxis, an extreme and severe allergic reaction that affects the whole body often within minutes of exposure to the causative substance.