Your child gets a rash after eating eggs. Or maybe they're itchy and restless after a meal with dairy products. Is it an allergy, or something else?
Allergies in children can be confusing to navigate. Here's an overview of symptoms, testing, and what you can do - based on Norwegian health guidelines.
How common are allergies in children?
According to the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association (NAAF), about 30 percent of Norwegian children have some form of allergic disease. The most common are:
- Atopic eczema - affects up to 20 percent of Norwegian children
- Food allergy - affects 6-8 percent of infants, but many outgrow it
- Pollen allergy - typically develops from age 3-5
- Asthma - affects about 10 percent of children in Norway
Allergies have a hereditary component. If one or both parents have allergies, the risk is higher for the child.
Food allergy vs. food intolerance - what's the difference?
Many people confuse allergy and intolerance, but they are two different things.
Food allergy involves the immune system. The body reacts to a protein in the food as if it were dangerous. Reactions can come quickly (minutes to hours) and can in rare cases be severe.
Food intolerance does not involve the immune system. It's about the body having difficulty digesting certain substances, like lactose. The symptoms are uncomfortable, but not dangerous.
According to the Norwegian Health Directorate, cow's milk protein allergy is the most common food allergy in infants. It affects 2-3 percent and typically resolves by the time the child is 3-5 years old.