Discovering that your child may have a food allergy is understandably worrying. At the first sign of symptoms, it’s natural for Atlanta parents to start looking for effective food allergy treatment options. But when is the right time to begin treatment in young children? Knowing the right steps to take is key to keeping your child safe and healthy as they learn to manage their allergy.
When Should Younger Children Begin Food Allergy Treatment?
Young children should only begin food allergy treatment after a confirmed diagnosis. That diagnosis starts with recognizing symptoms and following a step-by-step process from an experienced food allergist. Here’s what to expect from this process.
Identify Your Child’s Food Allergy Symptoms
The first step is to pay attention to any concerning symptoms that appear after your child has consumed milk, eggs, nuts and other foods. Common symptoms include skin reactions, sneezing, nasal congestion, stomach pain, and swelling of the lips or tongue. While these symptoms won’t always be caused by an allergy – for example, stomach issues could be due to lactose intolerance – they are a good sign that you should visit an allergist.
Get an Accurate Diagnosis From a Food Allergy Doctor
During a visit to a food allergist, you will be asked for details of your child’s symptoms, such as what type of reaction they had and what foods they had eaten. Your child’s allergist will also consider their medical history and any family history of allergies. Next, your child will likely undergo skin prick or blood testing to confirm if they have a food allergy. For more details, you can read our tips for preparing your child for a food allergy test.
Start the Food Allergy Treatment Plan
If the results of the food allergy test are positive, it’s time to start treatment. In some cases, strict avoidance of the allergen is the preferred approach to managing the condition. Medication (such as antihistamines) might also play a role, along with carrying an epinephrine auto-injector in case of an emergency. For long-term desensitization, your allergist may recommend oral immunotherapy treatment.
Is Food Allergy Treatment Suitable for Young Children?
Oral immunotherapy is an effective treatment for children, helping them build tolerance to the allergen through gradual exposure. After a consultation, your allergist will recommend the best food allergy treatment, ranging from avoidance strategies to medication or immunotherapy. Even young children can benefit from allergen desensitization for peanut, egg or milk allergies, with treatment being performed under close medical supervision by a board-certified allergist.
Trusted Pediatric Food Allergy Treatment in Atlanta
If your child experiences any concerning allergy symptoms after eating peanuts, tree nuts, fish, eggs, milk or other foods, contact our allergy treatment center for support. We provide dependable food allergy testing and treatment at locations across Atlanta. Call (678) 668-4688 or request an appointment today.
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