Firstly, having an intolerance to food is not the same as a suffering from food allergy. There are similar in many ways but there are some key differences separating the two. If your child is suffering from food intolerance it means that their symptoms are generally less serious and often limited to digestive problems, whereas an food allergy causes an immune system reaction that affects numerous organs inside the body, with the symptoms being more serious. In some cases, these symptoms can be severe or life-threatening.
The most common food intolerances in children include:
- Lactose – the sugar found in dairy products
- Wheat
- Food additives – such as flavour enhancers like MSG
- Fructose the sugar in fruit
At Paediatric Diagnostics, we provide fast access to investigation and treatment for children suffering from a food intolerance. Although not usually serious, the condition can cause your child to suffer from:
- Bloating
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Headaches
- Mouth ulcers
Although uncomfortable for your child, food intolerance is never life-threatening, unlike a food allergy.
We cannot say how long your child may suffer from their individual food intolerance, as it can vary depending on the food that affects them and the reasons behind the reaction. However, if your child has recently started showing signs that they have grown out of a food intolerance, we recommend that you speak to the Paediatric Diagnostics team, as we might recommend that you begin to re-introduce the food back into your child’s diet to check whether the intolerance has completely gone or whether it still remains.
Please feel free to contact us regarding the treatment for your child and we will be happy to see you both at the earliest opportunity.
We have clinics based in Dorking, Surrey and Wimbledon, London, meaning we are ideally placed to provide food intolerance investigations and treatment for children living in Croydon, Leatherhead, Kingston-upon-Thames, Tonbridge, Maidstone, North and South Kensington, Hammersmith, Twickenham, Camden Town, Wandsworth, and all nearby areas.
