Symptoms and treatment of broccoli allergy in babies

Broccoli is rich in vitamins and minerals that a child needs for proper growth and formation of all systems and organs. Although experts classify this type of cabbage as one of the most hypoallergenic foods, the body of some children gives out an allergic reaction when consumed.

Can you be allergic to broccoli?

Not a single product, even the most hypoallergenic, excludes the development of individual intolerance to one of its components. A child's immature digestive system is not always able to digest the proteins found in cabbage. It depends on the individual characteristics of the formation of the body and the release of the necessary enzymes.

The main reasons for the development of an allergic response in infants are:

1. Immaturity of the immune system. An unfamiliar protein is mistakenly perceived as dangerous, requiring rejection, due to which the fragile body reacts violently to it.
2. Hereditary predisposition.
3. Dysbacteriosis.
4. Cross-allergic reactions to other types of cabbage (cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, white cabbage), as well as peaches and radishes.

The reason for the development babies have allergies on broccoli, the substances with which the plant was processed during growth and storage, additives in ready-made vegetable purees often become.

Broccoli - allergen or not

A vegetable as such is a very weak allergen. Large amounts of vitamin C, the amino acids phenylalanine and tryptophan cause overreaction on the part of the body. The stem of broccoli contains chitinase, which is similar in chemical properties and effects on the body to the pollen of some plants.

Symptoms and reactions to broccoli in infants

An allergic reaction manifests itself either immediately after eating (immediate reaction) or within 2-3 days after consumption (delayed reaction). The average period is 3 to 72 hours.

The symptoms of this immune response are varied. The most common are:

• skin manifestations in the form of a rash, red spots, peeling;
• itching of the skin, often accompanying a rash and redness;
• swelling and redness of the eyelids, lacrimation, itching of the mucous membrane of the eyelids;
• flatulence, dyspeptic symptoms, stool disorders.

In severe cases, two life-threatening conditions develop:

• Quincke's edema: swelling of the lips, eyelids, cheeks, mucous membranes of the mouth and larynx, difficulty breathing, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting;
• anaphylactic shock: a sharp drop in blood pressure, accompanied by impaired consciousness.

When the first symptoms of an allergy to broccoli complementary foods appear, it is necessary to urgently take the child to the hospital in order to avoid the development of a deeper reaction, which can lead to respiratory arrest and death.

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Allergy treatment

The basis of allergy treatment is a diet with complete elimination (elimination) of the cause of the immune response from the diet. It is advisable to remove foods with which cross-allergies are possible: all types of cabbage, radishes and peaches. After a while, broccoli can be added to the diet, as the gastrointestinal tract and the immune system grow and develop. However, re-introduction of the product is carried out under the supervision of an allergist.

Reference. If any allergic reaction occurs, it is important to visit a doctor and conduct additional diagnostics to avoid problems in the future. You can not self-medicate.

Treating symptoms

Symptomatic therapy is aimed at eliminating the external manifestations of an allergic reaction. Drugs for relieving symptoms are local and systemic. The first ones fight rashes and itching of the skin, reduce puffiness. They mainly contain antihistamines, but in severe cases, drugs with corticosteroids are prescribed.

Systemic medications are taken orally and act on the immune system by decreasing the amount of antigens in the blood and thus reducing the level of the allergic response. For children, the funds are released in the form of syrup or drops. To accelerate the withdrawal of the allergen from the gastrointestinal tract, enterosorbents are prescribed (activated carbon, "Polysorb").

Important! Anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema require urgent care and treatment in an inpatient setting. To eliminate them, antihistamines and corticosteroids are administered in an injectable form, which allows you to quickly stop the attack.

Symbiotics are used to restore microflora with dyspeptic manifestations. When a cough and bronchospasm appear, antitussives and bronchodilators are prescribed.

Prevention of allergic reactions

To reduce the risk of allergies, new foods are introduced into the child's diet gradually, with the obligatory keeping of a food diary. Complementary foods are added in very small portions, starting from 5-10 g per day, preferably with short breaks of 2-3 days, in order to avoid false diagnostics of allergies.

To relieve the stress on the fragile gastrointestinal tract, other, less allergenic and lighter foods are introduced into the diet before broccoli. Specialists in baby food recommend giving mashed cabbage no more than 2 times a week, separately from other foods.

Reference. The stems of young bushes are fragile, while the adults, filled with chitinase, are very elastic and break with difficulty.

It is better not to use ready-made vegetable purees as complementary foods - due to the addition of stabilizers and thickeners to them, the likelihood of an allergic reaction increases. When self-cooking broccoli give preference to young inflorescences with a rich green tint.

Conclusion

Is broccoli an allergenic product or not? The immune system in infants sometimes gives out an atypical reaction to cabbage, especially if there is a hereditary predisposition and increased sensitivity to other foods. A hyperresponse in children can manifest itself both immediately after eating cabbage, and after a few days. To avoid this, broccoli should be added to the diet with care, making mashed potatoes as possible. If an allergic reaction appears in response to complementary foods, the product is temporarily removed from the diet.