Determination and treatment of food allergy in infants
1. What is food allergy?
Food allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body’s immune system that can occur repeatedly due to the consumption of certain foods. For example, milk allergy (CMA) is caused by the consumption of milk. Multiple food protein allergy refers to the possibility that the body may have an allergic reaction to multiple food proteins in addition to one protein. For example, babies who are allergic to milk may have allergic reactions to other proteins such as eggs, goat’s milk, soy milk, fish, shellfish, peanuts, nuts and wheat.
2. Are babies with a family history of allergies prone to allergies?
Yes. Families where one of the parents or siblings has allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema and other allergic symptoms are called “allergic families”. The chances of their babies developing allergies are as follows.
Allergy family history Prevalence of allergic diseases in children
Neither parent 5-15%
One parent has 20-40%
Both parents have it 50-70%
However, it should be noted that some babies can develop allergies even though they have no family history of allergies; some children can ask their grandparents, grandparents and grandparents to have allergic diseases.
3. What symptoms should I suspect when my baby has a food allergy?
The following are common food allergy symptoms.
(1) Skin manifestations: Common atopic dermatitis, i.e. eczema, often makes babies cry and sleep poorly because of itchy skin. Long-term poor sleep can cause low immune function and stunted growth.
(2) Gastrointestinal manifestations: vomiting, diarrhea, refusal of milk for no reason, sudden crying, vomiting can sometimes cause choking, aspiration pneumonia, and even life-threatening; long-term diarrhea can cause severe malnutrition.
(3) Respiratory manifestations: nasal congestion, runny nose, wheezing, frequent coughing, and repeated wheezing may develop into asthma. The above manifestations can appear alone or also 2~3 fading manifestations can appear at the same time.
If other factors such as infection are excluded and the baby has one or more of the above symptoms at the same time, it should be suspected that the baby has food allergy.
4.What should a baby with food allergy eat?
First of all, avoid foods that cause allergies in babies (medically called “allergens”). Secondly, babies with milk allergy should choose a nutritional formula that can replace the milk formula to meet their nutritional needs for growth and development. At present, the best dietary alternative is 100% free amino acid formula, which is mainly suitable for the dietary treatment of milk allergy or multiple food protein allergy.
5.What is free amino acid formula powder?
Free amino acid powdered formula, also known as “allergy-free formula”, is mainly used as an aid in the diagnosis and dietary treatment of milk allergy or multiple food protein allergy. “Allergy-free” means that the ingredients contained in it will not cause any allergy. At the same time, amino acid is the basic unit of protein, the body needs to break down the food protein into amino acid before it can be absorbed and used by the body.
Therefore, free amino acid formula powder can also be used as a nutritionally comprehensive elemental diet to provide a good nutritional support for clinical purposes, such as after gastrointestinal surgery or for malnourished children. “Elements” means that all the nutrients are the smallest molecular structure, very easy to absorb.
6.What is hydrolyzed protein formula powder?
Hydrolyzed protein formula, also known as “hypoallergenic formula”, is a special process to degrade the proteins in milk into peptide chains to reduce the allergenicity of the protein. The degree of allergenicity depends on the length of the peptide chain, and the deeper the degradation, the lower the allergenicity. Therefore, according to the complexity of the process and the length of the peptide chain, the hydrolyzed protein formula powder in the market can be divided into partially hydrolyzed protein formula powder and deeply hydrolyzed protein formula powder.
Partially hydrolyzed protein formula powder can only be used for dietary prevention of food allergies, while deeply hydrolyzed protein formula powder can be used for dietary treatment of some mild to moderate milk allergies.
7. Is it effective for babies with cow’s milk allergy to switch to soy milk, goat’s milk or hydrolyzed protein formula?
Both soy milk, goat milk and some of the hydrolyzed protein formulas currently on the market contain more or less allergens (proteins or peptides), which can still cause allergic reactions to varying degrees in babies with allergies. Therefore, soy protein formula powder can not be used for infants with food allergies under one month.
8.How to add solid food for babies with food allergy?
The key to food allergy treatment is to do a good job of food allergen avoidance. For example, babies with milk allergy within one year of age should strictly avoid foods containing milk protein, including: regular infant formula, rice flour containing milk protein, and other dairy products. In general, the addition of solid foods for babies with food allergies should be delayed, especially the addition of eggs. Some experts recommend delaying it until after the first year of life, as babies with milk allergies are also prone to egg allergy.
It is prudent to consult a medical professional and nutritionist before adding any complementary foods to ensure that they do not contain allergens.
9. Can milk allergy occur even in exclusively breastfed babies?
Breast milk is the most ideal source of nutrition for babies, and the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months, especially for babies with a family history of allergies, exclusive breastfeeding can prevent the occurrence of food allergies in babies. However, some babies who are exclusively breastfed will still have symptoms of milk allergy, such as repeated vomiting, persistent diarrhea, constipation or blood in the stool. This is because milk allergy also occurs in breastfed babies.
The possible causes are: intrauterine sensitization caused by the mother’s high intake of eggs, milk or shelled seafood during pregnancy. During breastfeeding, the mother consumed a lot of milk, eggs, shelled seafood and other food proteins, and these food allergens were passed to the baby through breast milk, resulting in the baby’s allergy.
10. What are the effects of food allergies on the baby’s future?
Generally speaking, allergic diseases have a developmental process, clinically known as the allergic process, which means that along with the age of the baby, the manifestation of allergic diseases will change in stages, with different allergic symptoms appearing continuously in various systems, among which clinical studies show that food allergy is a risk factor for triggering asthma. Therefore, we should pay attention to the baby’s food allergy phenomenon, once the food allergy occurs, we should take active measures to reduce the risk of other allergic diseases in the future.
11.What is the difference between 100% free amino acid special formula nutritional powder and ordinary infant formula?
Since 100% free amino acid special formula nutritional powder does not contain allergy-causing food proteins, it has been clinically proven to be a complete substitute for regular infant formula and is a special formula nutritional powder that must be consumed under the guidance of a professional physician/dietician.
It is used clinically in the following three areas.
(1) Preferred dietary treatment for infants with milk allergy/multiple food protein allergy.
(2) A rapid and effective adjunctive diagnostic tool for infants with milk allergy.
(3) Nutritional support for other children who need elemental diet, such as after gastrointestinal surgery or malnutrition.
12.What is the difference between 100% free amino acid special formula nutrition powder and hydrolyzed protein formula powder?
Partially hydrolyzed protein formula powder, also known as “moderately hydrolyzed protein formula powder”, can only be used for the prevention of food allergy. Deeply hydrolyzed protein powder, also known as “fully hydrolyzed protein powder”, can only be used for the dietary treatment of some mild to moderate milk allergies.
100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder can not only be used for the treatment of mild-severe milk allergy/multiple food protein allergy, but also can assist doctors to diagnose milk allergy quickly and effectively.
13. What is the difference between 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula and lactose-free formula?
Although lactose intolerant children may also experience persistent diarrhea, the underlying cause is not the same as milk allergy. The lactose-free formula on the market, commonly known as “diarrhea formula”, is formulated without lactose, but still contains milk protein. Therefore, it cannot be used to treat children with milk allergy. The 100% free amino acid special formula nutritional powder composition does not contain milk protein nor lactose, which can not only quickly relieve diarrhea symptoms caused by milk allergy, but also relieve diarrhea symptoms caused by lactose intolerance.
14.Why can 100% free amino acid special formula nutrition powder relieve baby’s eczema?
The occurrence of eczema in 0-1 year old babies is closely related to food allergy, the younger the baby, the more serious the eczema and the more common the food allergy (27-37%). 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder is the best dietary alternative for infants and children with food allergy recognized by the medical profession, so babies with eczema can consume 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder under the recommendation of professional physicians/nutritionists. The eczema can be relieved in about 14 days.
15.Why is 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula a safe choice for babies with eczema and diarrhea?
100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder does not contain milk protein and is truly an allergy-free formula. It has been used for nearly 30 years in more than 40 countries in Europe and the United States for the dietary treatment of children with milk allergy, which has fully proven its effectiveness and safety in completely relieving food allergy symptoms.
16.Why does my baby need to consume 100% free amino acid special formula powder?
When your baby is diagnosed with milk allergy or multiple food protein allergy, your doctor will recommend that your baby take 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder while avoiding food allergens because 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder has the following two advantages: fast relief of food allergy symptoms, rapid relief of gastrointestinal symptoms in 3 days and relief of all milk allergy symptoms in 14 days, including skin symptoms. At the same time, it can provide sufficient nutrition and promote the growth of hair.
17.Can babies consume 100% free amino acid special formula nutrition powder for a long time?
100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder, like regular infant formula, can provide calories, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals required for the growth and development of babies from 0-12 months, except that all proteins are replaced by free amino acids. The ratio of unsaturated fatty acids ω3 and ω6 in the formula is 1:10, similar to the ratio of breast milk, which can promote the development of baby’s intelligence and eyesight.
Therefore, 100% free amino acid special formula nutrition powder can fully meet the nutritional needs of the growth and development of 0-1 year old babies, who are healthy and naturally have sufficient immunity to resist the invasion of foreign pathogens.
18.How can my baby switch from regular milk powder to 100% free amino acid special formula nutritional powder?
Once milk allergy is diagnosed, please stop feeding regular infant formula and switch to 100% free amino acid special formula under the advice of a professional physician/dietician. Since 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder is a pure amino acid product, the taste and appearance are not exactly the same as regular infant formula. When switching, please do not use the taste of adults to measure the suitability for your baby’s consumption.
If your baby is not comfortable with the taste of 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula for the first time, it is recommended that you add a little glucose powder to the nutrition powder. When consuming 100% free amino acid special formula for the first time, you should follow the instructions on the can or under the guidance of a professional physician/dietician.
19.How should I feed my baby who is being breastfed and recommended by the doctor to consume 100% free amino acid special formula powder?
Breast milk is the best food for babies, but there are still some babies who are exclusively breastfed will have milk allergy. This is when your doctor may recommend 100% free amino acid special formula for feeding your baby. Here is the advice for you: First, please consult your physician/dietician if 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula is a complete substitute for breastfeeding or if you are feeding Nucante together with breast milk.
In case of mixed feeding, the nursing mother should avoid proteins that may cause allergy to the baby, such as milk, eggs, soy milk, etc. under the guidance of her physician. At the same time the mother needs to supplement calcium. In case of complete replacement, during the initial feeding period, to avoid the baby’s dependence on breast milk, it is recommended to change an elder to feed the baby 100% free amino acid special formula nutritional powder, while the nursing mother is advised to express the excess milk every day and pay attention to massage the breast to prevent the occurrence of mastitis.
20.What are the possible manifestations of baby’s consumption of 100% free amino acid special formula nutrition powder?
(1) stool color change: baby eating 100% free amino acid special formula nutrition powder at the beginning, the stool color may change a little, such as become yellow-brown, or become dark green, or the number of stool reduction, about 3 days to poop once, this is normal, parents do not need to worry.
(2) increased exhaust: consumption of 100% free amino acid special formula nutrition powder at the beginning, the baby may have increased anal exhaust, this is a normal phenomenon.
(3) Increase in appetite: Once the clinical allergy symptoms have subsided, your baby may have an increased appetite, especially if your baby’s weight is below normal before consuming 100% free amino acid special formula. This indicates that your baby is able to fully digest and absorb the 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula. Please continue to feed as needed. Clinical data shows that infants who consume 100% free amino acid special formula can achieve better growth and development.
21.How long does it take for my baby to improve his allergy symptoms after consuming 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula?
Usually, the gastrointestinal allergy symptoms will be improved after 3-5 days of consumption, and the skin allergy symptoms can be improved accordingly in about 14 days, but some babies may need a little longer time.
22. Why did my baby’s allergy symptoms not improve significantly after 2-4 weeks of consuming 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder?
If your baby’s symptoms do not improve significantly after 2-4 weeks of consuming 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula, please do not stop consuming 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula and replace it with other infant formulas. It is recommended to consult a professional physician/dietitian to understand the reasons for the lack of improvement in symptoms. Generally speaking, there are 2 reasons for this: failure to avoid food allergens or not simply caused by food allergy.
23. Will the food allergy come back if I stop using 100% free amino acid special formula nutritional powder?
Generally speaking, by avoiding dairy products and other allergic foods and consuming 100% free amino acid special formula nutrition powder for a period of time, the allergic symptoms of a considerable number of babies can be effectively controlled. However, there are some babies who may have food allergy symptoms again after resuming normal diet. Therefore, we suggest that after 4-6 months of consuming 100% free amino acid special formula, babies should be switched to deeply hydrolyzed protein formula, so that they can slowly transition from allergy-free formula to hypoallergenic formula and finally consume regular infant formula or fresh milk.
24.Does my baby need to stop taking anti-allergy medicine while consuming 100% free amino acid special formula nutritional powder?
For children with eczema as the main allergic symptom, after stopping the use of regular infant formula and consuming 100% free amino acid special formula nutritional powder, the original topical creams or oral anti-allergic drugs can be consulted with the advice of professional physicians to decide whether they need to stop.
25.What is deeply hydrolyzed protein formula powder?
Deeply hydrolyzed protein formula powder is a deeply hydrolyzed whey protein formula powder that can effectively relieve infants and children of milk allergy symptoms, which has the following characteristics.
(1) Does not contain casein, the primary allergen that causes milk allergy.
(2) Using hydrolysis technology, the main allergen β-lactalbumin in milk protein is broken into small peptide chains and free amino acids, containing: 15-20% free amino acids.
80-85% short peptide chains, with an average of 4.5 amino acids per peptide chain length.
(3) Hypoallergenic, suitable for the follow-up and consolidation of children with mild to moderate milk allergy.
(4) Complete nutrient, containing high quality DHA and ARA, which are key fatty acids for infant brain, vision and nervous system development, rich in medium chain fatty acids, extremely easy to digest and absorb, providing good nutritional support for children with severe malnutrition.
26.Can I mix 100% free amino acid special formula nutrition powder/deeply hydrolyzed protein formula powder with regular milk powder?
No. Once your baby is diagnosed with milk allergy, you should stop regular formula immediately under the advice of a professional physician/dietician, including soy milk, goat milk and other dairy products that may cause cross-reactivity.
27.Can babies with food allergy over 1 year old consume 100% free amino acid special formula powder/deeply hydrolyzed protein formula powder?
Yes, babies with food allergy over 1 year old can replace their daily fresh milk or regular infant formula with 100% free amino acid special formula powder after avoiding the food items that clearly cause allergy. For babies over 1 year old with food allergy, the consumption of 100% free amino acid special formula powder/deeply hydrolyzed protein formula powder may vary from person to person, please consume under the guidance of professional physician/dietician.
28.What should you pay attention to when your baby is consuming 100% Free Amino Acid Special Formula Nutritional Powder / Deeply Hydrolyzed Protein Formula under the recommendation of a professional physician / dietitian?
(1) Please be sure to stop giving your baby foods that may cause allergies, such as dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.), eggs, etc., as this may affect the therapeutic effect.
(2) Please make sure that all utensils (including bottles, teats, etc.) are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before preparing 100% free amino acid special formula/deeply hydrolyzed protein formula, especially if the above utensils are used to prepare other infant formulas.
(3) If you have any other infant formula left in your home, store it in a cupboard or discard it.
(4) After consumption, wash the bottles, rinse with water, and then sterilize with steam.
(5) Please use the small spoon included in the can for measuring. The spoon may be buried in the powder, so use a clean and dry knife to dig and remove it.