Food allergy in children

During the first year of life, the infant diet is the most powerful determinent of the child and food allergy is the most common health problem.There is little doubt that mother's milk is the best food for infants because it supplies generous amount of immunoglobulinA,the protective antibody which the infant bowel lacks.This antibody helps to protect the infant from bacterial infection and probably reduces the entry of antigenic food protein fragments reducing the incidence of food allergy.Food allergy in infancy is expressed as crying, colic,vimiting,rashes,eczema,and cold like respiratory congestion.Some infants with food allergy fail to thrive unless their allergy is recognized and corrected.Infants who develop food allergy in their first year may out grow the first effects but these children will tend to grow into adults with more pervasive health, behaviour and learning problems unless their diet is properly managed.