While anyone can have allergies, they are more common and more dangerous in children. Allergies, caused by an improper immune response to certain foods, can result in uncomfortable symptoms or even anaphylaxis, characterized by breath constriction, low blood pressure and nausea, which can be life threatening, especially to children. As such, it is important to determine allergy causes in children as soon as possible. The following 5 foods are commonly associated with childhood allergies:

1. Milk
Ironically, considering how prevalent milk is in school lunches and advertisements aimed at children, milk is one of the most food allergies in children and infants, though most children eventually grow out of it. A milk allergy is typically caused by an immune system reaction to casein or whey, which are two proteins found in cow’s milk, with the symptoms occurring a few minutes to a few hours after consumption. It is important to note that a milk allergy and milk or lactose intolerance are different issues that require different treatments. However, both can result in digestive issues.

2. Wheat
In much the same way that a milk allergy is not lactose intolerance, a wheat allergy is not celiac disease, although eliminating wheat is a common treatment for both. While gluten intolerance involves an immune response to gluten, a wheat allergy is usually a reaction against any one of the proteins found in wheat—albumin, globulin, gliadin, or gluten. Though a wheat-free diet, the most common treatment for a wheat allergy, is less restrictive than a gluten-free diet, wheat does appear in surprising products, such as soy sauce and hot dogs.

3. Peanuts and tree nuts
Perhaps the most infamous food allergy in kids is the peanut allergy that has kept peanut butter sandwiches out of numerous school lunchrooms. Moreover, many who are allergic to peanuts are also allergic to tree nuts, which have a similar protein structure, including pistachios, pecans, walnuts, almonds, and cashews. Unfortunately, cross contamination between nuts and and otherwise nut-free foods is common, so, depending on the severity of your child’s allergy, you may need to be extremely diligent about what your child is allowed to eat.

4. Shellfish
Shellfish fall into two categories—crustaceans, such as shrimp, crab, or lobster, and mollusks, such as clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, octopus, and squid. A shellfish allergy can range in severity from mild hives to anaphylaxis. Note that a shellfish allergy is different from a total seafood allergy, so, unless your child has also demonstrated a seafood allergy, they can still eat fish. However, cross-contamination with other seafood is fairly common, so be cautious, especially in seafood restaurants.

5. Soy
A soy allergy in children often starts in infancy, as the child experiences an adverse reaction to soy-based baby formula. Luckily, most children outgrow their soy allergy. Moreover, while anaphylaxis is certainly possible, most soy allergies are fairly mild. The symptoms are still uncomfortable though, so your child should still avoid products containing soy. Unfortunately, soy is used in more products than you may think, including meat products, baked goods, cereals, and chocolate.

Once the allergen has been identified, a doctor can recommend an appropriate allergy treatment. While they can provide antihistamines and inhalers to treat symptoms and epipens for emergencies, however, the most common treatment for allergies is to eliminate the allergen from your child’s diet. Be sure to check ingredient labels carefully and seek medical attention immediately if your child exhibits signs of anaphylaxis.