Food alelrgies/intolerance symptoms in preschool children? Foul breath, ADHD, Intattentiveness, Behavior, Etc
Anyone have suggestions for whether these symptoms could be a food intolerance/allergy:
we have a 4 year old boy who has had these symptoms for almost 3 years and we’ve seen specialist after specialist, but have gotten the inconclusive “ADHD, Aspergers Tendencies” No-one has any idea why these are occurring and I’m not sure what else to try (tests to request, possible causes, etc.).
His symptoms:
ADHD – yes, he does have the symptoms
Anxiety
Foul breath/very strong urine odor
inattentiveness
Bad (were talking he needs a one-on-one aide) behavior
Delayed Speech
Sensory integration issues (seeks out stimulous, etc.)
I had a friend tell me to get him tested for food allergies, but I want to get a better idea of what others thought before we dive in (our insurance won’t cover any kind of naturopathic treatments). Maybe its not just food allergies, but could an underlying allergy make his problems worse???
Thank you for your thoughts.
What do you think?
Tagged with: ADHD • alelrgies/intolerance • Behavior • Breath. • children • food • Foul • Intattentiveness • preschool • symptoms
Filed under: Uncategorized
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My
name is Lesli Paterson, and welcome to my blog. I created this blog to
help other people like me who are suffering with tonsil stones. 
My son was showing signs of Aspergers and ADHD. Not the same ones as your boy and they were milder, but enough for me to be concerned. He is 4 as well.
Without allergy testing, I have removed wheat (and gluten for the most part) from his diet. Indeed, all of our house is wheat-free since January and the change has been amazing. People cannot believe the change in him! Now people say he is a pleasure to be with…..and I am so pleased.
I should note that I have given him other supplements as well (Omege-3, Probiotics and a super-food called Ionix)
But I think it is the wheat.
I have yet to try dairy.
Why not try eliminated one of these at home for 3 months. It will not cost you any $$ and it certainly cannot hurt. There is a lot of information/resource online for this very thing.
Good Luck!
Allergies could certainly make things worse and not just food allergies. If you want to see what your son may be allergic to in the way of food, start with a diet of chicken and rice and water, after a week add one food item at a time with about 3 or 4 days between. Note any changes in his behavior. You will soon notice what he should not eat. Stay away from sugary cereals and snacks that are not natural foods. Fresh fruits, nuts (stay away from peanut butter), sunflower and sesame seeds, dried fruits, green leafy vegetables, chicken and fish (stay away from red meats) and hold off on the eggs for awhile too. The very first thing I would do is stop using milk and milk products. The foul breath suggests either mucus in the sinus’s and nasal passages with a nasal drip down the back of the throat and/or a low grade bacterial infection. The odor can also be coming from the stomach. I am thinking that he has had trouble hearing because of congestion and plugged eustachian tubes (the tube that runs from the inner ear to the back of the throat). Allergies could certainly play a big part in how your little guy feels. He would feel cranky and perhaps act out. He may have a number of different symptoms due to an allergic reaction to something. Sometimes it feels like there is pressure in your head when you react to something, sometimes your throat feels raspy or like it is burning. If he is plugged up and can’t hear very well from time to time he will compensate with seeking other stimuli. I suggest changing to using soya milk rather than cows milk as soon as you can and see if this makes a difference. Use one that has calcium added. So much of our food has additives that your son could be sensitive to and believe me if you change his diet to pure foods like I have suggested it could make a big difference to his behavior and how he feels. Refined sugars, sulphites, hormones, preservatives, colouring, all can be a big factor in his behavior. You don’t need naturopathic treatments. Go online and search for holistic diets ones that use organic foods with none of the above additives. Don’t over cook your foods either, steaming them until they are heated but not mush is best. Rice is a good bet since it is mild and easy to digest. There are rice noodles, rice flour, and a variety of different rices. He also needs to drink lots of water. Not pop, and limit his juices for awhile. Try unsweetened ones like pineapple, orange, or ones with papaya. Papaya is good for digestion so even a snack of Papaya is helpful.
One other food allergy could be wheat and other grains so be careful when you add these to his diet. Try oatmeal or cornmeal breads instead.
Hopefully a change in his diet will help. He could have all sorts of other allergies that could affect him in different ways. Try using a pediatric antihistamine when you see a change in his behavior. Use as perscribed.
Don’t forget to give him water. This helps his whole body function much better. Sit with him while he has his meals, snacks and drinks and ask him how he feels, does he like what he is eating and watch for changes in his mood.
You have been to a lot of specialists so I don’t need to tell you to check with your physician, but if you notice your son is improving with a change of diet let them know and also let them know if you find that certain foods really do seem to make him feel out of sorts. I hope this helps him. Good luck.
O.K., Mom, time for a bit of education & serious action on your part…Child, too…don’t leave him out of this process. as he has alot to gain:
First thing after reading this…get a large contractor’s garbage bag and go through the pantries and the fridge…every label that has ANY artificial ingredients–esp.colors & sweeteners, any nitrites or sulfites, any preservatives other than Vitamin E (tricepherols-I believe I spelled that correctly), any refined sugars listed in the first 5 ingredients…as you find these, put them in the bag…throw them out with the next garbage run. You will probably fill the bag & then some…I did. This is a start of revamping both yours and your child’s diet.
While you are doing this, explain what you are doing, and hand these things to him to put in the bag…he will probably give you some guff about his faves, to which you simply reply, “Mommy had no idea until now that these have poisons in them…we can’t eat things like this if they make us sick, now can we?” Let him think, let him learn.
When you go shopping to replace these items with other things, take him with you…make a few short trips to do this because reading labels, until you get to know companies you can trust, seems like a long process for little ones. Also, keep in mind that your replacements are going to taste differently than what you are used to…explain this, too…and your taste buds are going to expect the usual, and sense otherwise…this is normal & quickly adapted to, you just have to use your creativity & imagination to make things taste yummy enough for the little guy to accept them…not using sugars to do so…get into some spice know-how.
Do not let him eat school food but maybe once a week…pack a good lunch from home…you do the same, if you work. Snacks & lunches are now fruits with yogurt whipped w/cream for dipping (the cream eases you into yogurt if you are not familiar with this food yet), celery, cucumbers & carrot sticks w/a good dressing, croutons w/herbed extra virgin olive oil for dipping (kids love to dip), raisins (unsulfated or unsulfited) & tuna or egg salad sandwhiches on whole grained bread or little oat thins crackers…unconcentrated juices made into popcicles….use your beloved Mom imagination…get a kid’s vegetarian cookbook to get you guys on a better roll. Meat is okay, in serious moderation–only 3 or 4 x/wk. for dinner. Eggs…buy Organics, or vegetarian fed, free-rangers only, or farm eggs if you can get them & know the farmer’s practices.
By the way, the only chocolate syrup worth buying is in the Kosher section in a squeeze bottle, and I can’t think of the name off hand–the label will tell you it’s good stuff. Buy organic, unbleached sugars, or use real maple syrup or a light honey as substitutes. Buy only unbleached flours. You’ll get to know the score as you read your labels.
Educate yourself, Mom, then relay that info to your child…there’s plenty of good sites & books…order a catalog & the newsletters from herbalhealer.com for some real indepth info on what’s in our foods & the dis-eases that they cause…good start.
There is a wonderful elixir that I made for my 2 boys that I got from herbalhealer…it’s for kids under stress…teething, colic, family/pet deaths, home changes, etc…you can make it yourself, too, but for now buy it already done…it works!!!…Get on some high quality St. John’s Wort yourself…I’m sure you’ve been having it pretty rough, too, yes?
Anyway, you’ve got the general idea…and you will be sooo amazed at the changes in your child & yourself because of these simple can-do changes…in a matter of 2 weeks you will see the effects drastically.
Oh, by the way, if you use any air/carpet sprays, Lysol products, bleach cleaners, etc…chuck them in your bag, too…a simple solution of 1 tbs.Tea Tree Oil, 1/4 cup white vinegar, & 32 oz. water makes a disinfectant cleaner for everything…and it’s kid friendly! For now, go with the Free & Clear laundry stuff, too. You can’t imagine what these things do to developing minds, as well as our aging process., but I hope I have you on a learning spree, so you will.
Enjoy your new life & the many smiles!!!
It sounds like he is on the autism spectrum with ADHD… they bad breath/urine smell may be unrelated. But, have your school district participate in the evaluation… They should also help with funding. Do something NOW… as early intervention is the way to go. If he requires a 1:1, your school district should be providing psych evaluations and modification including programs at home (behavior therapy programs). Ask about getting these services that would be implemented by a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst).
You need to press your school district and child study team. Do not take no for an answer. Depending on the school district, you need to fight for your child’s needs. Some school districts also do not really know what they are talking about as well…. so do your research. Contact or get evals. from the following:
Your doctor (for referrals)
Psychiatrist (For diagnosis and medication)
Behavior Specialist (BCBA) – contact your school district.
And get tested for allergies (to rule them out).
You may also need a lawyer who specializes in special needs services. (You will probably need one at some point).
@@@Remember, it’s not easy… and you need to demand services for your child before your school district provides them… do not be afraid to go to litigation. Schools are concerned about money and funding and, a lot of times, decisions are based on this, not what is best for your child