I often hear parents talk about how their children or family members are allergic to certain foods. But what is a food allergy? Food allergy definition: an abnormal immune response to a certain food. Incidence: Usually thought to be 6-8% within 3 years of age, but this figure is not accurate because it is relatively difficult to investigate. 70% have a family history, which gradually decreases with age. What foods tend to cause allergies: milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shells, etc. What are the manifestations: diarrhea with blood or mucus, vomiting, difficulty swallowing or burning sensation in the chest, abdominal pain, eczema, hives, erythema, asthma, laryngitis, or other allergic reactions Identifying food intolerances: often caused by lack of enzymes for metabolism, drug reactions, toxins in food, more common than food allergies, most often as Fructose intolerance, how to treat: 1. exclude the food from the diet; if the symptoms are not severe, it is best to exclude them one by one. 2. medication: corticosteroids or antihistamines, prescribed by the doctor after identification; 3. after 6-12 months without symptoms, desensitization can be tried, if the previous allergy was very severe, it should be done in a hospital; it is recommended to be done under the guidance of a doctor. Prevention: If a close relative has a significant allergy to a certain food, the newborn should avoid ingesting it.