Conditions & Treatments
- A to Z Guide

Food allergy

Disease Information

Overview

When a child is diagnosed with a food allergy, the family's lifestyle changes. They have to prepare their food differently, it affect their ability to go out and eat dinner, and it affects their ability to go to social events. Sometimes patients and families will become very anxious about exposure to the food and developing an allergic reaction. Food allergy has a major impact on quality of life for families so anything we can do to reduce their food allergy is really terrific.

Lynda Schneider, MD, director of Children's Allergy Program

A food allergy is an abnormal response to a certain food; if your child has a food allergy, exposure to that food causes an immune system response, causing symptoms that range from uncomfortable to life-threatening.

If your child has a food allergy, an allergic reaction will occur the second time your child is exposed to that particular food (although, in some cases, the child could be sensitized through breast milk).
Ninety percent of food allergies are caused by the following six foods: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy, Tree Nuts, and Peanuts.
Eight percent of children under age six have food allergies.

How Children’s approaches food allergies

Children’s diagnostic evaluations are supported by advanced allergy testing facilities, and an individual treatment plan is established for each child. Treatment may include education, medical management, and coordinated care with your child’s primary physician.