A food allergy means your child's immune system is hypersensitive to a protein in a specific food. If your baby is allergic to bananas, his body will attack the food when it comes in contact with his digestive system, sending white blood cells to defend the body and kill the allergen. For your child this can mean a rash, vomiting, diarrhea or even anaphylaxis. Learn how to introduce your child to foods and what to look for if he is allergic to bananas.
External Signs
Immediately following the introduction of bananas to your baby's diet, look for external bodily signs of an allergy. These can include hives, swelling of his face, legs or arms or rash on the mouth. A food allergy may also cause eczema, a rash characterized by itchy red bumps that are often filled with pus. Rarely does a food allergy trigger eczema in adults, but it does occur in children.
Internal Signs
An immediate sign of a food allergy may include trouble breathing and chest tightness. Shortness of breath accompanied by chest or throat closing can be fatal, so find medical help immediately. Other signs may be vomiting, gas, runny nose, coughing, moodiness, loose bowels or even fainting. Over the long term you may even notice unhealthy weight gain due to malabsorption of nutrients.
The Wait Rule
Introduce new foods as a single ingredient and one at a time to your little one. After introducing a food, such as bananas, wait three to five days to see if she exhibits any of the signs of an allergy. Waiting and introducing foods one at a time can help you pinpoint which food your child is allergic to. If you do not follow these guidelines and she has an allergic reaction, it may be difficult to tell which food is the cause.
What to Do
If you suspect a food allergy, contact your child's pediatrician. Your child may have to undergo a food challenge in which a small amount of the suspected food allergen is fed to your child every 20 minutes. This takes place in the safety of your doctor's office or a hospital, so if there is any adverse reaction, help is on hand. If your child is diagnosed with a food allergy, the best way to treat it is to avoid the food.