All About Food Allergies
Motherhood Magazine|September 2017

Are you unsure if your child has a food allergy or what you should do if your child has an allergic reaction? MH checks with the experts on everything you need to know about food allergies.

Nurulhuda Suhaimi
All About Food Allergies

Does your child always experience adverse reactions such as rashes or breathing difficulties when he eats a particular food? If he does, your child might have a food allergy.

According to associate consultant, Dr Alison Joanne Lee, Division of Paediatric Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, National University Hospital, the most common food allergies among Singapore toddlers are egg allergy (about 1.5 per cent) and cow’s milk allergy (less than 1 per cent).

If you suspect your child has a food allergy, ensure you check with a doctor first. “Confirm the diagnosis with an allergist, who will perform skin and/or blood tests. We see many children with suspected food allergies and often this is not true,” says Dr Lee. This happens at times because some parents may mistake their child’s reaction to a particular food as an allergy when it is not necessarily the case.

Is it Really a Food Allergy?

First of all, we have to highlight the differences between food allergy and food intolerance. Dr Lee clears this misconception.

“A food allergy is when the body’s immune system sees that food as foreign and overreacts to it when it is eaten. It can affect multiple organs in the body, including the skin, intestines, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. These allergic reactions may get worse if you give the food again because the immune response gets stronger and can be life-threatening,” she explains, “Food intolerances are more like “side effects”. They are usually less serious and don’t get worse or become life-threatening with subsequent ingestions. For example, monosodium glutamate (MSG) causing headaches or spicy food causing diarrhoea.”

How do I Know if it’s a Food Allergy?

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2017 من Motherhood Magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2017 من Motherhood Magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من MOTHERHOOD MAGAZINE مشاهدة الكل
Gift Of The Jab
Motherhood Magazine

Gift Of The Jab

MH speaks to the experts on the importance of immunisations.

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2017
Bounce Bounce Baby
Motherhood Magazine

Bounce Bounce Baby

Kids love trampolines. In fact, most adults love trampolines too! There is something freeing about bouncing on a trampoline that everyone, regardless of age, can relate to. Better yet, there are also a ton of benefits to bouncing on a trampoline!

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2017
Zest For Life
Motherhood Magazine

Zest For Life

From her first to her fifth child, VLV CEO Dolores Au never stopped working. She gives MH a glimpse into how she manages to stay on top of it all.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2017
what happens to your body post-baby?
motherhood magazine

what happens to your body post-baby?

now that you’re almost at your due date, have you stopped to wonder what’s going to happen to your body once the baby’s out?

time-read
5 mins  |
january 2017
learning through play
motherhood magazine

learning through play

get a jumpstart on your preschooler’s learning with these fun activities.

time-read
4 mins  |
january 2017
of films and family
motherhood magazine

of films and family

she’s just turned 40 — and indie film stalwart yuni hadi shows no sign of stopping. the eternally youthful executive director of the 27th singapore international film festival talks to mh about her love for her life and work.

time-read
3 mins  |
january 2017
Cramping During Pregnancy
Motherhood Magazine

Cramping During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, cramping can be a normal thing. However, it still can be worrying for the mummy-to-be. Here’s how to know what is normal, how to identify cramping, and when it is time to call the doctor.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2018
The Untold Secrets Of Labour
Motherhood Magazine

The Untold Secrets Of Labour

The pain, the pressure and yes, the poop. There is so much that goes on in the delivery room that no one talks about. MH spills it all.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 2018
Keeping It Baby Smooth
Motherhood Magazine

Keeping It Baby Smooth

Your baby’s skin is her first protection against daily aggressions. Are you using the right products to care for it?

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2018
Mamaste
Motherhood Magazine

Mamaste

Yoga entrepreneur Malvina Kang draws inspiration from her son.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 2018