Pediatricians publish new tips to prevent food allergies in children

In the United States, pediatricians have released a new directive on the prevention of food allergies and other allergic conditions in children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published the updated guide after reviewing all available evidence regarding the prevention of allergic reactions in children. This effectively replaces the similar directive on the subject published in 2008.

The organization hopes to liberalize the exposure of children to foods long considered highly allergenic, such as fish, milk and peanuts.

Presentation of allergenic foods to young children

In his report, the PAA stated that there was not enough evidence to prove that delaying the exposure of children aged four to six months to allergenic foods could help not to develop food allergies.

On the contrary, strong evidence suggests that an early and targeted introduction of foods such as peanuts to four-month-olds could even prevent them from developing allergic reactions. The APA stated that this was especially true for high-risk infants or those with close relatives who had a history of allergies.

Scott Sicherer, one of the authors of the new report, explained the AAP's position on the issue.

"There is no reason to delay giving your baby foods that are considered allergens like peanut products, eggs or fish," Sicherer said.

"These foods can be added early to the diet, just like foods that are not common allergens, like rice, fruits or vegetables."

Babies develop their tolerance to allergic reactions in the gastrointestinal tract. When the cells of the immune system in the intestine are exposed to allergenic proteins present in different foods, they are able to absorb them and become more resistant to these proteins.

Dr. David Stukus, expert in pediatric allergies at the National Children's Hospital, but was not involved in the PAA report, agrees with this statement, provided that allergenic foods are "introduced early and continuous way ".

This means that parents only have certain periods during which they can expose their children to these foods to make them resistant.

Stukus said that the introduction of allergenic foods could be made as early as four to six months old.

Impact of badfeeding on resistance to allergies in the building

The AAP also revised its badfeeding directive to determine if it can help babies develop resistance to eczema, asthma, wheezing, and badfeeding. Other food allergies.

The report's authors stated that babies who were exclusively badfed within three to four months of their birth were more resistant to eczema.

Breastfeeding for an extended period, even if it's not exclusive, can protect them from wheezing during the first two years of their life and against asthma during first five years and beyond.

However, the researchers found no conclusive evidence suggesting that badfeeding can actually prevent the development of allergies.

There was also no evidence to prove whether avoiding allergenic foods during pregnancy or even during lactation prevented the development of allergic conditions in young children . The same is true for high-risk infants fed on hydrolysed special preparations.

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, a general pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital and a supporter of the early introduction of dietary diversity in young children, welcomed the release of the new guidelines, taking into account the constant evolution of public understanding of allergy prevention.

However, she pointed out that eating varied foods can be beneficial even to adults to protect them from allergies.

"It's not just an early introduction – it's a routine diet – it's a habit – we have to get in the habit of eating a very wide variety of foods," Swanson noted. .

"It's a good habit to live all your life because 50% of people who develop a food allergy develop it in adulthood."

Ⓒ 2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.