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 William J. Klish, M.D., is Professor of Pediatrics, Head of Pediatric
Gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine and Chief of the Nutrition
and Gastroenterology Department at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Dr. Klish has served as chair of the Committee on Nutrition of the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
Q: My friend's pediatrician advised her not to give her daughter eggs until she was a year old, and peanuts until she was at least three due to a family history of seasonal allergies. Is this sound advice or is he being overly cautious?
A: Nuts, such as peanuts, and shellfish, strawberries, fish, and eggs are examples of foods to which many individuals can have a serious allergic reaction. These reactions are usually immediate and the symptoms include hives, wheezing, and occasionally swelling of the throat which can be life-threatening. Seasonal allergies usually consist of annoying nasal stuffiness and eye irritation caused by environmental allergens such as grass or tree pollen or mold spores. I know of no study that implies that the avoidance of selected foods such as eggs or peanuts will prevent seasonal allergies. Of course, if there is a strong family history of a specific food allergy it would be a good idea to have your child tested for that allergy.
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