Allergy

Question 1

What is an allergy?

Answer 1

• An allergy is an over-reaction by the body’s immune system to substances that are not necessarily harmful (e.g. dust, foods, pollen)
• Some children are more prone to allergies than others, and often allergies run in the family.
• The majority of children have very mild reactions to certain substances, and may present with a rash, runny nose (hay fever), wheezing (asthma), or stomach upsets.
• Rarely, children who are very sensitive to allergens may have life threatening symptoms including difficulty in breathing.

Question 2

Allergy vs intolerance

Answer 2

• Food intolerance is caused by difficulty digesting certain substances in food. The undigested substance irritates the GI tract, causing symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating and stomach cramps.
• The symptoms of food intolerance occur usually a few hours after eating the food. Allergic reactions happen much more quickly
• With allergy, even a tiny amount of the food can cause an allergic reaction to take place (e.g. nut allergy). With food intolerances you need a lot more of the food to cause the symptoms.
• Food intolerances are never life-threatening. Some allergies are - they can cause anaphylaxis.