The Origin Of The Food Allergy Diagnosis In Children Has The Potential To Disrupt Growth

JAKARTA - Food allergies in children often appear suddenly and trigger serious reactions that endanger health.

Allergy to food is often underestimated by most parents. Even though food allergies are not only a health problem, but also have the potential to hinder children's growth and development in the future.

The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) reminded how important it is to properly recognize and handle food allergies. The hope is that this kind of situation does not continue and threatens the achievement of the 2045 Golden Indonesia generation.

"Children who repeatedly experience allergies are certainly disturbed and can hinder the achievement of the 2045 golden generation," said the General Chairperson of the IDAI Central Executive, Dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, in an online seminar entitled "Food Allergy in Children: How to Recognize and Overcome it" on Tuesday (16/9/2025).

Food allergies are conditions when the immune system mistakenly considers a substance as in certain foods to bebaha for the body. Foods that often cause allergies (allergenic foods) include shrimp, milk, eggs, soybeans, fish, soybeans, wheat, shells, crabs, and coconuts.

Food allergies are increasingly being found in Indonesia. Data from the World Allergy Organization (WAO) shows that the prevalence of allergies in the world reaches 10-40 percent of the population.

In a journal entitled Found allergy in children-the current status and the way forward released in 2022, it is explained that globally four percent of children around the world experience food allergies. The prevalence of cases has continued to increase in the last two decades.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, IDAI data records, about 0.5 7.5 percent of Indonesian children experience allergies.

Doctor Piprim explained that cases of food allergies in children are often found due to high consumption of food-processed food.

"High food-processed glycemic index, which is refined carbs, fibered fast carbohydrates, and other foods that also have the potential to interfere with the health of our children. Among them is also an allergy problem in these children," said Piprim.

Although allergies to children often occur, this disease should not be diagnosed and treated haphazardly. Because, not all symptoms of illness in children refer to allergies. It takes correct medical examination before stopping dietary taboos, so as not to pose a greater risk to children's growth and development.

Today, parents are often confused about their child's diet. Not a few children who arepicy ether or choose food, besides that there are also children who have food allergies.

Based on experience in the field, Dr. Endah Citraresmi, Sp.A(K), Subspecies of Allergi Immunology admit that they often find various conditions related to food allergies in children, whether they fail to diagnose or even over-diagize.

In general, food allergies are distinguished into a quick reaction (mediated IgE antibodies) and a slow reaction (cell/T-cell mediated). Rapid reactions usually appear in less than an hour after eating, their characteristics are in the form of biduric, bentol, vomiting, stomach pain, to life-threatening systemic reactions such as anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is the most serious form of reaction. This condition is characterized by symptoms of at least two organs, such as a bentol accompanied by shortness of breath or vomiting accompanied by a fainting. Fast treatment with emergency drugs is very important to save the child's soul.

"Quick and precise handling is very important to save children's lives. However, in the field, anaphylaxis is often not diagnosed properly so that many cases escape optimal handling," said dr. Endah.

While slow reactions can appear a few hours after eating, with longer symptoms such as diarrhea, defecating bloody, vomiting repeatedly, or dermatitis.

Allergist reactions not only have an impact on physical health, but also trigger family anxiety because they have to be extra careful avoiding trigger foods.

However, dr. Endah explains that not all symptoms in children such as gumoh, kolic, or diarrhea mean food allergies. Eczema or tryps are mostly triggered by environmental factors or infections.

Likewise with skin problems such as dermatitis or eczema, the main cause is not necessarily food allergies. Exim is mostly triggered by damaged skin barrier disorders so that it is easily inflamed due to environmental factors, such as dusty houses, and pousi.

To overcome this, not by administrative food, but by repairing the skin by moisturizing and avoiding environmental originators. Food challenges that are not necessary can actually increase the risk of sensitization and cause food allergies in the future.

"If the child does not have a definitive diagnosis, he is allergic to food, don't challenge it because we want to make sure that there is a oral exposure that can cause tolerance," he concluded.