Occasionally, you will need to care for children who have food allergies. It is estimated that 2 to 10 percent of the population has allergic reactions to food.
Children often outgrow their allergies by about their fifth birthday or during puberty.
And some people have no allergies until adulthood. A food allergy is an adverse reaction to a food or food component that involves the body's immune system. When a food allergen is consumed, it causes the immune system to produce increased levels of antibodies specific to that food. These cells enter body tissues, where they bind to mast cells. These specialized cells store various substances that cause allergic reactions and symptoms.