Food allergy is when the body reacts to certain foods by an abnormal immune system reaction. Some reactions such as "hives" or a red skin rash, swelling of the tongue or lips, happens very quickly.
Other reactions include eczema, vomiting or constipation may be delayed. Reactions can range from mild to severe and there may be overlap between fast and delayed reactions.
Food intolerance happens in a more delayed way, often occurring hours or even days after eating certain foods.The immune system is not involved in this reaction, therefore it is not life threatening and cannot cause anaphylactic shock. Typical symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting.
Avoiding or reducing the intake of allergenic foods during pregnancy and breast feeding is not proven to prevent an infant from developing food allergies.
The ideal time for starting to introduce solid foods to an infant is after 17 weeks,(4 months) and before 26 weeks (6 months) based on the needs of the mother and child.
Less hypersensitivity has been demonstrated in infants who are weaned before 6 months but there is no ideal time on which all "experts" are agreed.
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