Certain proteins in cow s milk products cause 90 percent of food allergies. Fish, shellfish, and tree nuts cause another 5 percent of food allergies. The remaining 5 percent are caused by other foods including egg whites, peanuts, wheat, or soybeans. After children turn 12 months of age, whole milk and eggs may be added one at a time into the child's diet. Parents should watch for reactions.
Children are more likely to have food allergies than are adults.
Many children grow out of these, often by around age six. When the wrong food is eaten, the allergic child's immune system tries to fight it off the same way it would a cold. Protein in foods is the most common cause of these allergies. Symptoms can happen in any part of the body, including the stomach and bowels. Food intolerance may cause symptoms similar to food allergy.