Soy is a protein-rich legume capable of triggering allergies in babies (1). It is important to identify the symptoms of soy allergy in babies as early as possible. Soy proteins are treated as pathogens by the immune system of people with soy allergies. It releases antibodies (immunoglobulin E or IgE) to fight the allergen, leading to an allergic reaction (2). Soy should be introduced to babies only when they reach six months of age and above. You may start foods that may be possible allergens in small quantities one at a time. It helps in differentiating between the possible causes of food allergies. Keep reading the post about soy allergy symptoms, causes, and management options in babies for more information.
Symptoms Of Soy Allergy In Babies
A baby allergic to soy can show the following symptoms on the consumption of soy products (3). According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, a soy allergy can rarely cause an anaphylactic shock, where there is a sudden drop in blood pressure along with difficulty in breathing (3).
When To See A Doctor?
See a doctor immediately if the baby shows the following symptoms, which might indicate an anaphylactic reaction. Epinephrine (adrenaline) auto-injector can help relieve the conditions immediately. If your baby is confirmed to have a soy allergy, then the doctor may recommend you to keep an epinephrine auto-injector (epipen) handy.
Causes And Risk Factors Of Soy Allergy
It is not very clear as to why some people develop soy allergy. Research suggests that food allergy might be a result of a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Some factors increase the susceptibility to develop soy allergy (4).
Babies, in general, are more prone to food allergies than adults.
The presence of other food allergies and allergic conditions like eczema, asthma, hay fever, etc., increase the risk. Image: iStock
Infants whose parents or siblings have soy allergy are more likely to have an allergy.
Soy allergy is one of the eight most common food allergies in the US (4). It is a part of the legume family, but a person allergic to soy need not be allergic to other legumes(3).
Diagnosis And Tests
There is no single method to identify the presence of soy allergy in babies. The doctor might employ the following methods (4). A skin prick test is performed in older children and adults to determine the presence of food allergies. The test involves injecting a small quantity of suspected allergen into the skin. If a bump develops at the spot of injection, then the allergy is confirmed. This test may be risky for infants due to the required exposure to an allergen. Also, the bump at the site of injection can be uncomfortable. Therefore, the doctor might use a combination of elimination diet test and blood test to determine the presence of soy allergy in babies.
Treatment Of Soy Allergy
The treatment of soy allergy involves the management of anaphylactic shock and the long-term management of the allergy. The American Academy of Pediatrics enlists the following medicines to help in managing soy allergies in babies (5). If it is confirmed that your baby has a soy allergy, then they must avoid the following soy products for the long-term management of soy allergy (6).
Soy-based infant formula Soy flour Tofu Soy milk and soy milk products, like soy milk yogurt Soybean starch and oil Cooked soybeans and soybean broth Soy sauce and other fermented soy products
The following are some packaged products that might contain soy or soy derivatives.
Baked items like cookies, crackers, and cakes Canned broths and soups Cereals High-protein energy bars and snacks Peanut butter Vegetable sauces Soaps and moisturizers
It is good to check the ingredients mentioned on the label to determine the presence of soy. Stanford Children’s Health instructs parents to look for labels such as “processed in a facility that also processed soy” or “made on shared equipment” and check with their child’s doctor about the safety of such products. These foods may not contain soy but may have it as a contaminant during manufacturing (7).
Prevention Of Soy Allergy
It is difficult to prevent any food allergy. The following measures might help reduce the risk of soy allergy to a certain extent (8). Soy allergies in babies could show symptoms such as lightheadedness, vomiting, stomach issues, skin changes, breathing difficulties, cough, etc. Though the exact cause is unknown, it could be caused due to environmental and genetic factors. Nevertheless, soy allergy could be managed by timely diagnosis and taking certain essential preventive measures. Moreover, a study conducted with 130 participants demonstrated that 50% of babies may outgrow this allergy by seven (1). However, if you notice your baby’s symptoms getting worse or developing new symptoms, it is best to seek medical care.
