Parents urged to be vigilant for signs of food allergy
Parents should keep an eye out for symptoms of possible food allergies and seek medical advice if they suspect their child may be affected, an expert has said.Lindsey McManus, deputy chief executive officer of Allergy UK, also advised parents to keep a diary of children's diet plans and symptoms for a couple of weeks if they suspect their child may be intolerant to a particular food.
"This will help your GP to be able to give you the best advice; they would also be able to refer you to an appropriate specialist or dietician," she explained.
Parents should be aware of certain symptoms that are likely to indicate an allergic reaction, including sudden rashes, swelling of the lips, breathing difficulties and projectile vomiting after eating.
"In this case, a child should be taken to the GP as soon as possible, who will be able to refer you to an allergy specialist," Ms McManus advised.
However, children with severe reactions should be taken straight to A&E in order to seek emergency treatment.
Figures from Allergy UK indicate that two per cent of adults have a food allergy, while 45 per cent may suffer from a food intolerance.
