Allergies

We can define allergy as the exaggerated response given by our immune system to a stimulus from a substance foreign to our body, such as a food or pollen. However, it could also be caused by a variety of other factors (from animal hair, to dust, insect bites, certain medical ingredients...); something that is normally completely harmless to most people, but which your body perceives as more or less harmful.
In practice, it is an 'excess of defence' on the part of our organism, which, however, backfires on ourselves.

At the time of weaning, consider that if you know in your family that there is a predisposition to allergies, it is a good idea to talk to your paediatrician who will be able to advise you on which foods to avoid or which to introduce at different times.
In general, it is good to follow the rule of "a single new food every four days", in order to have time to observe whether your child has a possible reaction and if so, to check how severe and whether it is related to a specific food.
In recent years it is common practice, supported by paediatricians, to try to gradually introduce all the various foods considered particularly allergenic (eggs, dried fruit...), in the first few months of weaning, only if the mother is still breastfeeding, because breastfeeding means that the baby's immune system is strengthened by the mother's defences and any allergic reaction in the baby is relatively more moderate.

In the first and second years of life, allergic manifestations in the skin, such as eczema or atopic dermatitis or urticaria, often caused by food allergens, are more frequent.
From the 2nd year of life, airway allergies such as rhinitis and asthma, caused by environmental allergens such as dust and pollen, become more frequent.

How to check if it is an allergy
The sure way to determine if and what kind of allergy has affected us is by undergoing a medical test (and the essential consultation with the paediatrician). However, some alarm bells that can put us on the alert may include:

• runny nose or sneezing;
• pain or discomfort around the cheeks, eyes or forehead;
• coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath;
• itchy skin or rash (hives);
• diarrhoea;
• feeling of malaise:
• swollen eyes, lips, mouth and throat.

In these cases:

1. try to remain calm;
2. console your child, who is most probably frightened;
3. contact the doctor and explain the situation;
4. continue to monitor your child;
5. take note of what might have happened that is different from the daily routine or what he or she ate... to get a better understanding of the situation.

On the other hand, if:

• there is a rash that may include itching, redness, swelling, blistering or peeling of the skin;
• one has shortness of breath;
• there is a feeling of tightness in the chest or throat;
• there is difficulty breathing or speaking;
• the mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat begin to swell
  ... a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) may occur and immediate treatment in hospital may be required.

In such cases:

1. try to remain calm;
2. console your child, who is most probably frightened;
3. call the Emergency Number and explain the situation;
4. continue to monitor your child;
5. make a note of what may have happened/ or eaten... to get a better understanding of the situation.