Foods and fruits that babies are prone to allergies

Among infants and young children under 1 year old, the top five fruits that are most likely to cause allergic reactions are mango, pineapple, kiwi, strawberry, and downy peaches (peach, plum peach, etc.). More than 62% of the fruit allergy medical cases in infants and young children are related to these types of fruits.

We parents all know that adding complementary foods to babies is like walking on thin ice. My bestie’s 8-month-old rice cake just stepped on a trap last week. My grandma secretly fed her two mouthfuls of the green mango she just bought. Within half an hour, her mouth became completely red. A dense rash broke out, and the baby couldn't stop scratching it. He rushed to the pediatric emergency room in the middle of the night. The doctor said it was typical mango contact dermatitis, which was not serious. He applied some ointment and it went away the next day, but it also frightened the whole family.

When it comes to whether these allergy-prone fruits can be given to babies, there are actually two completely different opinions in the feeding circle. The experience of the older generation is that "it is best to add allergy-prone foods later, and wait until the baby is 2 years old to avoid suffering." However, in recent years, both the WHO's feeding guidelines and the Chinese Nutrition Society's recommendations for adding complementary foods have mentioned that if there is no clear family history of allergies, you can gradually try allergenic foods after 6 months of adding complementary foods. There is no need to deliberately delay, as deliberately delaying may increase the probability of allergies. Both statements are actually reasonable. The key point is to consider the child's own situation and not go to extremes.

Why are these fruits so easy to get into trouble? In fact, each has its own reasons. For example, most mango allergies are contact-related. The interface between the peel and pulp of immature mangoes contains a large amount of urushiol, which is the same allergen that many people are allergic to paint. The baby's skin barrier is much thinner than that of adults. If the juice touches the mouth and cheeks, it will easily become red and rash. In many cases, the allergy is not caused by ingestion, but the skin is irritated. When the baby is over one year old and the skin barrier is developed, it will most likely be fine if you eat it again.

The main allergen of pineapple is bromelain. This enzyme will decompose the protein of the oral mucosa. If adults eat too much, the mouth will be numb. Not to mention the delicate oral mucosa of children. Soak it in light salt water for half an hour before eating, or heat it and boil it. If the enzyme is inactivated, it will not react easily. Half of the problem with kiwi fruit is the fuzz on the skin, and the other half is the various plant proteases in the pulp. When I tried it on my baby, I peeled the skin very thickly and even removed the outer ring of astringent flesh. I only dug out the soft core in the middle, for fear of getting a little fuzz on the skin and irritating the skin.

As for strawberries and peaches, many people think that they are susceptible to allergies due to the use of enlarging agents. In fact, this is not the case. Currently, there is no clinical evidence that plant growth regulators used in compliance with regulations will increase the probability of allergies. The allergens of strawberries are mainly specific proteins in the epidermis, as well as pollen attached to the surface, and unwashed pesticide residues. Not to mention peaches, the layer of fine fluff itself is a strong allergen. Even if it is washed, a small amount of residual fluff can easily cause redness when it touches the skin.

Many people say that "allergenic fruits are safe if they are heated." This really depends on the situation. The heat-sensitive protease in pineapple and kiwi is indeed useful, but the allergens like urushiol in mango and velvet allergens in peach cannot be completely eliminated by heating, and the allergy will still occur. Some people think that "as long as you don't get a rash after eating, you are not allergic", which is not correct. Some children's allergic reactions are not manifested on the skin, but may be diarrhea, inexplicable crying, and restless sleep after eating. Pay more attention to these hidden reactions.

I have seen a negative example in the maternal and infant group before. My mother heard from a blogger that introducing allergenic foods early can prevent allergies. Her baby was just 6 months old and had only eaten high-iron rice noodles for the first time for a week, so she directly fed half a kiwi fruit. As a result, the baby not only had a swollen mouth, but also developed laryngeal edema and mild asthma. In the end, he went to the hospital and was nebulized for two days before he recovered. There is really no need to be so radical.

In fact, there is no need to regard these fruits as scourges. My baby was allergic to mangoes when he was 10 months old. His mouth was red for two days. Now that he is over 2 years old, he occasionally eats half a Tainong mango without any problems. Every baby's immune development rhythm is different. You don't need to follow other people's feeding schedules. When trying, go a little slower, only try one kind at a time, and start with a small dose and observe. It will be more effective than any guide. If there is a clear family history of food allergies in your family, you should be more cautious. It is not too late to go to the hospital for an allergen screening first, and then try it slowly.