An Overview of Food Intolerance among Indian Children

In today's world, the children of India are unable to receive the proper amounts of nutrition their bodies require to live appropriately. A large chunk of these cases are actually derived from the intolerance of specific food items that are actually healthy and must be consumed daily for them to have a proper BMI. These food intolerances are definitely not to be compared to any type of food allergy, as they have a lot of differences that separate them, yet, a lot of uninformed individuals have just begun to make no changes to their lifestyle and continue to suffer every day without noticing the consequences of their actions.

Food intolerance is basically the body not correctly processing and digesting the consumed food items, which then lead to further complications such as altered digestive symptoms as well as a feeling of uneasiness. The body's immune system can not pick up any signs that Food Intolerance puts up, as the system can only pick up food allergies or other serious conditions, unlike Food Intolerances.

WHAT ARE THE KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FOOD INTOLERANCE AND FOOD ALLERGY

A child with food intolerance will have all of their issues take place in their digestive systems, while a child with an allergy to food will have their entire immune system affected. After consuming food, a child who has an intolerance to a specific food item, the reaction will actually take place hours after the food has been consumed. A child suffering from any type of particular food allergy will immediately find themselves having an adverse reaction to the slightest contact to the food item that child is allergic to and must immediately be sent to the hospital.

Some of the most common symptoms found with children who are having Food Intolerance are having a very bloated stomach, the stomach itself is full of gas and acidity, and the body expels a lot of diarrhea which causes a lot of itchiness. Children who are allergic to food items are stated to experience a lot of swelling around the face and neck as well as anaphylaxis, which is a very serious condition. Thankfully, a child suffering from food intolerance has nothing to be worried about, as it can be taken care of without much trouble, but a child with a serious food allergy will always be under very strict medical care as their chances of having a fatal encounter will be at a very high percentage.
To understand the signs and symptoms of food intolerance in greater depth, especially in adults, you can also explore our dedicated post on Food Intolerances in Hindi. 

WHAT ARE SOME VERY COMMON SYMPTOMS FOR FOOD INTOLERANCES 

• A child who is very accustomed to food intolerances will be able to get a lot of signs for when they are affected by an intolerance.
• A child suffering from a bloated stomach is a very common and irritable symptom that usually follows an upset stomach due to food intolerances after having a meal of any kind.
• The child is able to have very long and excruciating stomach cramps that show no signs of stopping and continue to go on for a rather long time.
• Food Intolerances are also able to give children a lot of diarrhea after consuming something that they are intolerant and incapable of digesting.
• Loose Motions and Constipation are also a rather uncomfortably painful and common side-effect from food intolerance among children.
• Children are also stated to suffer from a lot of continuous and painful headaches that show no signs of stopping and can go on for hours on end.
• Children with food intolerances are capable of having a lot of vomiting and nausea overwhelm them from time to time.
• Lastly, another big sign that children have intolerances to food have been known to have a lot of terrible rashes that cover their entire body.
• These symptoms really have no time limit as to when and how they can affect a child without knowing what the child themselves are allergic to, and the symptoms themselves can appear anywhere between 30 minutes after consumption of potentially problematic food and 48 hours.

Nutritional deficiencies like Vitamin B12 may sometimes worsen food intolerance symptoms explore Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Hindi to know more.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON FOOD INTOLERANCES IN INDIA?

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

This medical condition is almost always found in some children after they turn 5-years-old. This is one of the most widespread intolerances present in the country, and is created whenever there is a lack of the Lactase enzyme found in the child's body, leading to a lot of severe reactions against any particular dairy product, such as milk, curd, paneer and ice creams. Children who have been very high in Lactose Intolerance are often found in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, which is mostly due to how reliant their dairy products are.

GLUTEN INTOLERANCE

This intolerance among children has been known to be made due to the formation of the Celiac Disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, which is another increasingly common form of food intolerance making its presence in children. This specific intolerance is mainly triggered by the presence of barley, wheat and rye. Unfortunately, most of the time, it is misdiagnosed as a completely different medical condition known as IBS, and children are provided a completely different type of medication than what is usually provided. This food intolerance is almost always found in diets that are filled with wheat, such as bread and chapati on the daily.

FRUCTOSE INTOLERANCE

This is a relatively uncommon fruit intolerance that is targeted by specific food items that can have really adverse reactions in the child. Fructose intolerance is not only found in various different fruits you find in your everyday market, but also in a lot of cold drinks, as well as snacks that are covered in pure sugar. The symptoms that follow any Fructose Intolerance are almost always a lot of bloating in the stomach, gas and acidity as a result from the bloated stomach, and even loose stools.

Managing food intolerance often starts with dietary changes. Learn about fiber-rich foods in Hindi.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DIAGNOSE CHILDREN IN INDIA?

The correct way to properly diagnose a child who happens to be suffering from a type of food intolerance is through proper testing procedures done by different methods all over the country. These methods have all been fact-checked and approved by a lot of doctors and medical professionals.

FOOD INTOLERANCE BLOOD TEST

This blood test's primary purpose is to check for any potential food sensitivities that have either been delayed or pushed aside for potential future attacks. It is able to test an extremely large variety of food related products totaling up to 150+ food samples for proper testing. The overall price and cost for such a test would be anywhere between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 9,000. This particular test package will be available in almost every major Indian city such as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and even Pune.

DOCTOR GUIDED ELIMINATION DIET

This very special test will be regarded whenever professional doctors first remove every potential food item from the diet of the patient before slowly reintroducing them one small piece at a time. The observation time for this test will be anywhere between 4 weeks to at most 6 weeks, depending on the severity of the testing phase. It is also a very time consuming test, besides being one of the cheaper tests available right now. 

LACTOSE BREATH TEST

This test method has been used for finding any traces of lactose intolerance present in the body. However, it is stated to be a very kid-friendly and non-invasive test method that almost every child with lactose intolerance can easily put their trust into. This particular test is most often present in a variety of gastroenterology labs.

In some cases, doctors may advise a CBC test to check for inflammation or immune response linked to food intolerance. Learn more about the CBC Test in Hindi.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS FOR FOOD INTOLERANCE PACKAGES IN INDIA?

• The IgG Blood Test will set you back a decent Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 9,000 depending on the lab being used. These labs are more often than not found in metropolises and online platforms.
• The Lactose Intolerance Test is another blood test that is usually found in gastroenterology labs and clinics throughout the country itself, coming at a decent Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 3,500.
• Gluten or Celiac Tests have been known to be found in extremely specialized labs in India as would cost between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 5,000.

HOW TO TREAT AND MANAGE FOOD INTOLERANCES IN CHILDREN?

STEPS TO MANAGE FOOD INTOLERANCE

• Get rid of the suspected food item that seems to be causing the most amount of irritability as soon as possible for the management to actually have some sort of effect.
• Next, try and keep a close eye on any potential food intolerance symptoms as well as manufacture a diet that does not require the the suspected food item at all.
• Ensure that you have a food diary close to you whenever your child consumes food items to keep a note of any potential reactions on each food item to find the intolerant food item.
• Always try and include as much alternative food sources as possible to keep a healthy diet going for the child's development and growth.
• Lastly, try and have a detailed conversation with your family dietician regarding what you are required to provide for your child as well as what potential food items to avoid, if there are any adverse reactions to it.

Since gut health plays a vital role in managing food intolerance in children, don’t miss our in-depth blog on Gut Health in India.

WHAT ARE SOME MYTHS REGARDING FOOD INTOLERANCE FOR CHILDREN?

• That these reactions are almost often regarded merely as indigestion, and because of that, are often ignored for the most part.
• That Children are just expected to grow out of having an intolerance issue to a particular food item in due time, as their bodies have yet to mature.
• That the blood test results that their parents receive are claimed by them to not be accurate at all, and will often have a lot of stubbornness towards the situation at hand.
• That the belief of Ayurvedic Kadhas have the super ability of solving every body ailment present, even food intolerances.

FAQS

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOOD INTOLERANCE AND FOOD ALLERGIES?

Food intolerance only has very serious reactions in the digestive system as well as the process of digestion itself, whereas food allergies have capability of setting off the entire immune system and causing a lot of unnecessary damages to the body that can potentially be fatal.

CAN I HAVE A FOOD INTOLERANCE TEST AT HOME?

There are a multitude of platforms that are capable of offering some great deals for having a test package be offered at the comfort of your child's home. 

WHAT IS THE PRICE OF FOOD INTOLERANCE TEST IN INDIA

The overall price range of a food intolerance test would be anywhere between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 9,000, depending on the website and lab you have selected.

IS FOOD INTOLERANCE CURABLE?

Unfortunately, there has been no current cure for any type of food intolerance in India, but that does not mean it is not avoidable. WIth some of the best medical professionals providing advice on what food items to consume and what to avoid, the fear of suddenly contracting an intolerance to a specific food item lowers significantly.

CONCLUSION

Children suffering from food intolerances are a very real occurrence in the modern world, and India is no stranger to this phenomenon. Food has become such a staple for the culture of India that children who are unable to enjoy what they are intolerant towards have to adapt to something with a little less impact than what other children their ages have on the daily. Ignoring their struggles can also lead to a lot of complications for their future, so always ensure that you are completely aware of any potential signs of symptoms that your child may be displaying, be it frequent stomach bloating, fatigue and even horrible stomach aches that persist for a long time, and book a food intolerant package for your child!

Medical Disclaimer – The information that has been written is only to be used for educational purposes. There has been no information presented by this website, be it tests, images and graphics, which should be taken as professional medical advice. Always consult with your doctor regarding any medical advice that may relate to your condition.