ลูกแพ้อาหารอะไรบ้าง? รู้ได้ด้วยการทดสอบการแพ้อาหาร วิธี Oral Food Challenge Test

<p>When your baby is 4-6 months old, it is the time to start complementary foods in addition to breast milk. Parents may worry about food allergies in young children and are unsure what foods their child might be allergic to, as it could lead to severe reactions, even death. The Pediatric Clinic at Phyathai 2 Hospital is prepared to reduce these concerns by offering food allergy testing through the Oral Food Challenge Test method, along with care tips to help reduce the risk of food allergies for your little one.</p>
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<h2 style="color: #008080"><span style="color: #00826a"><strong>Pregnant mothers&#8230; eating too much or too little may increase the child&#8217;s risk of food allergies</strong></span></h2>
<p style="color: #008080"><span style="color: #000000">Various allergic diseases, including food allergies, are caused by genetic and environmental factors, such as the mother&#8217;s eating habits during pregnancy and breastfeeding, which may increase the child&#8217;s risk of food allergies. For example, consuming certain foods in amounts that are too high or too low than normal has been found to increase the risk of allergy to those foods. <em>Doctors therefore recommend eating a balanced diet with all 5 food groups during pregnancy and breastfeeding to reduce the risk of allergies.</em></span></p>
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<h2 style="color: #008080"><strong><span style="color: #00826a">How do food allergies manifest in children?</span></strong></h2>
<p>Food allergy symptoms in children can be divided into several types, such as:</p>
<h3><span style="color: #339966">Divided by symptoms shown in body organs</span></h3>
<ul>
<li>Skin: such as hives, sandpaper-like rash on the skin</li>
<li>Gastrointestinal tract: such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, stools with mucus or blood, etc.</li>
<li><span style="color: var(--tw-prose-body);font-size: 1rem">Respiratory tract: such as runny nose, snoring, noisy breathing as if there is phlegm, bronchial constriction, etc.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #339966">Divided by time of symptom onset</span></h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Immediate reaction</strong> means allergy symptoms appear immediately after eating, within 2-6 hours. If symptoms are severe, such as widespread hives, flushed face, redness around the mouth and eyes, bronchial constriction, it can be severe enough to cause low blood pressure, unconsciousness, and death. In less severe cases, symptoms may affect only one system, such as sandpaper-like rash on the body, runny nose, or nasal congestion.</li>
<li><strong>Delayed reaction</strong> means allergy symptoms appear more than 12-24 hours after eating, mostly involving the gastrointestinal system, such as vomiting or diarrhea with mucus or blood in the stool.</li>
</ul>
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<h2 style="color: #008080"><strong><span style="color: #00826a">Foods that commonly cause allergic reactions in children<br />
</span></strong></h2>
<p style="color: #008080"><span style="color: #000000">These include cow&#8217;s milk, eggs, wheat flour, soybeans, various nuts, and seafood such as shrimp, crab, shellfish, and fish.</span></p>
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<h2 style="color: #008080"><strong><span style="color: #00826a">Want to know what foods your child is allergic to? Phyathai 2 Hospital has the answer<br />
</span></strong></h2>
<p style="color: #008080"><span style="color: #000000">If parents suspect their child has a food allergy, they should initially see a doctor for a detailed history and physical examination. If the doctor suspects an allergy to certain foods, testing can be done by Skin Prick Test or blood test to measure specific IgE antibodies to those foods.</span></p>
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<h2 style="color: #008080"><strong><span style="color: #00826a">What is the Skin Prick Test?</span></strong></h2>
<p style="color: #008080"><span style="color: #000000">It is a test where extracts of suspected allergenic foods are pricked onto the skin, and the area is observed for redness and swelling after 15-20 minutes. For this test, the child must stop taking any antihistamine medications at least 7 days before testing. If redness and swelling appear corresponding to the food and time of ingestion, it indicates an allergy to that food.</span></p>
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<h2 style="color: #008080"><strong><span style="color: #00826a">How to start complementary foods in children? Parents can feel reassured</span></strong></h2>
<p style="color: #008080"><span style="color: #000000">Consider testing for foods that are likely to cause allergies using the Skin Prick Test and/or blood test for specific IgE. The doctor will test foods commonly causing allergies in children, such as cow&#8217;s milk, egg yolk, egg white, wheat flour, soybeans, etc. If the test results show no sensitivity to these foods, it is recommended that the child can eat complementary foods normally at home if symptoms are not severe. However, if sensitivity is detected, the doctor will recommend testing the child’s consumption of that food in the hospital through the Oral Food Challenge Test in cases of severe and immediate reactions.</span></p>
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<p>The doctor will give the child the suspected allergenic food in appropriate types and amounts, gradually over a period of time, while closely observing symptoms for about 4-6 hours. After that, it will be clear whether the child is allergic to that food or not, and if allergic, what symptoms appear, how severe they are, the amount of food causing the reaction, and guidance on how to manage it. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled appropriately.</p>
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<h2 style="color: #008080"><strong><span style="color: #00826a">Advantages of the Oral Food Challenge Test</span></strong></h2>
<ul>
<li>It is a test conducted by allergy specialists in the hospital, with close and safe monitoring.</li>
<li>Once it is known which foods the child is allergic to, it is not necessary to avoid all potentially allergenic foods, only those confirmed to cause allergies, preventing unnecessary nutritional deficiencies and missed opportunities to eat those foods.</li>
<li>Reduces anxiety for both parents and the child, making it easier to live in society and prepare for school entry.</li>
<li>If an allergy is found, the doctor will schedule follow-up every 3-6 months to assess the chance of outgrowing the allergy and to monitor growth continuously.</li>
</ul>


When the baby is 4-6 months old, it is the age to receive complementary foods in addition to breast milk. For food allergies in young children, it can be tested by performing an Oral Food Challenge Test.

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What foods is the child allergic to? Find out with food allergy testing using the Oral Food Challenge Test method.

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