Causes of Chocolate Allergies in Children
Chocolate is one of the first places in the list of known allergens and often causes a negative reaction not only in children, but also in adults who are not prone to allergies.
Chocolate allergy often occurs in children under 5 years old. Photo: Getty The reason is that it contains the following ingredients:
- Peanut, palm and coconut oils, which replace most of the cocoa butter in chocolate production.
- Milk powder, often causing allergies in children who do not tolerate milk protein.
- Soy lecithin - its intolerance is often found in children under the age of 3-4 years.
- Gluten - vegetable protein, an allergy to it can be detected long before the introduction into the diet of chocolate - during the first feeding with cereals.
- Nickel is an element that should be ingested in small doses.
- Tyramine is a substance that dramatically increases blood sugar levels and pressure.
In addition to the main allergens that make up chocolate, it often contains nuts, raisins, vanilla, coffee, and other additives that can trigger an allergy.
Symptoms of Chocolate Allergies in Children
Hazardous components of chocolate can get intothe baby’s body is not only directly, but also with mother’s milk. Therefore, it is better for breastfeeding women to stop eating chocolate for the entire period of breastfeeding. Symptoms of "chocolate allergy" in a child:
- multiple rashes on the body;
- severe redness of the cheeks;
- itchy skin;
- crust formation under the hair;
- loose stools, often with a greenish tint;
- flatulence and stomach pain;
- cough, runny nose, and difficulty breathing.
When signs of sensitivity toA delicacy, a baby needs to be shown to the doctor to establish exactly which component of the product caused the allergy. Therapy usually includes taking antihistamines, adsorbents for cleansing the blood and intestines, and topical application of antipruritic ointments and creams. In some cases, children are shown swimming in water with the addition of medicinal herbs and fasting. Chocolate is a product that must be introduced into the baby’s diet with care. According to allergists, it should not be given to children under 5 years old. When an allergic reaction appears in a child, any sweets should be removed from his diet and he should always consult a doctor. It is also interesting:
