2023-05-02 23:00:16
- According to the WHO, the prevalence of allergies to any food varies from 1.1% to 10.8% globally.
- The foods that cause the most allergies are eggs, milk, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, soy, fish, and wheat.
- While at present it is estimated that approximately 5% of children under the age of 5 have a food allergy.
Childhood is a time of total learning for minors but also for their family environment. Children naturally want to play all the time and although there is no problem with this situation, health should never be overlooked. In fact there is a dermatological disease that, although many do not know it, has a direct relationship with food allergy.
It is in childhood where we can find fun in any corner, with any pretext and in different daily activities such as playing in the dirt, getting wet with water balloons or taking a good dip with friends in the pool. Unfortunately, those magical moments can be lost when autoimmune diseases appear that alter the entire dynamic of childhood.
The dermatological disease that can cause food allergy
In this regard, it is time to talk about the atopic dermatitis. It is a chronic inflammatory skin disease and is known to be the most common skin condition in childhood. This condition can be aggravated by the presence of humidity, extreme weather or particles that trigger allergic reactions and thus impact their social and well-being environment.
Another aspect that we pleasantly remember as part of the first stage of life are those sweet or salty flavors that delight our nobel palates. How about a nice slice of cake, a bonche of vibrantly colored candies, or a rich supply of peanuts.
A problem that goes beyond the skin
Well, children with atopic dermatitis often have to restrict or avoid these types of foods due to the development of allergies to certain foods, such as chocolate, some dyes used for candy, milk, meat or eggs. In fact, about 20 to 40% of children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis have a food allergy.
Although the problems do not end there. It is estimated that uncontrolled atopic dermatitis gives rise to other allergic diseases such as asthma or allergic rhinitis.
On the other hand, atopic dermatitis not only limits the intake of certain foods when there is hypersensitivity to them, but also exposure to dust, sun, cold or pet hair.
Food allergy has no cure
While something very important to note is that food allergy cannot be cured. You can only prevent symptoms by avoiding foods that cause reactions. If you come into contact with a food that causes a minor allergic reaction, you can usually use an antihistamine to relieve symptoms. In the case of a severe reaction, you may need an emergency injection of epinephrine or go to the emergency department.
Undoubtedly these scenarios are particular to childhood. However, in Mexico, where atopic dermatitis represents 17% of all childhood dermatoses in children between 2 and 12 years of age, symptoms typical of this disease such as rash, intense itching, reddening of the skin, insomnia due to pain on the skin, they can be exacerbated by aero-allergens, such as dog or cat dander and pollen.
for the doctor Ana del Carmen Garcíaan internist with a subspecialty in allergology and immunology and medical liaison manager at Sanofi, this dermatological disease in pediatric patients represents an important health challenge that must be given visibility.
“It is necessary to reflect on the impact that atopic dermatitis can have on the quality of life of patients such as children, who are discovering the world through multiple scenarios and sensory experiences derived from trying, touching and being in contact with nature”.
Timely consultation with health specialists, such as experts in dermatology and allergology, as well as continuous attention from parents, can make a big difference to properly control the atopic dermatitis and allow children to discover the world without restrictions.
Currently, thanks to scientific innovations, pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis have therapeutic options that have shown great effectiveness in achieving excellent control of the inflammatory processes that it causes in minors.
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Food allergies and intolerances: Medical tests for detection
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