Halloween should be a time where you simply head out in your favourite costume and enjoy some trick or treating with your friends or siblings. But for many children and teens, Halloween is fraught with either sweet intolerances or sweet allergies. When it comes to making this holiday fun, part of preparing properly for it is going to be in understanding sweet intolerances and sweet allergies.
Sugar intolerances
Just like other intolerances, sugar intolerances have certain symptoms to watch out for. Sugar intolerances are considered to be rarer than a lot of other intolerances, but they do happen and should be taken seriously when they do occur. Common symptoms to watch out for include:
- Bloating and stomach pain: if you are suffering from looting or stomach pain directly after eating sugar, it could be a sign an intolerance
- Gas: If you are feeling very gassy, particularly in the abdominal region, you could be intolerance to sugar.
- Diarrhoea: If sugar gives you the runs, it’s also a sign that your body is struggling to digest and process the sugary food.
Sugar intolerances can often take an hour or even a few hours to settle in, as the sugar needs to make its way down to the stomach and start going through the digestive tract.
Sugar allergies
Sugar allergies are considered to be rare, but allergies to sugar can arise in children, particularly as they are exposed to high amounts of sugar around Halloween season. Some of the symptoms to watch for are:
- Sneezing: Considered to be amongst the mildest symptoms for an allergy, frequent sneezing is one of the most common ones to expect.
- Abdominal pain: Mild to moderate to severe abdominal pain is common with those who have sugar allergies. It can be accompanied by diarrhoea, too, normally fast-acting or appearing.
- Hives: Like other allergies, sugar allergies can bring out hives, particularly focused on the mouth and face area.
- Difficulty breathing: Difficulty breathing or other classic anaphylaxis symptoms are also signs to expect with a sugar allergy, though they often are considered to be rare.
Unlike sugar intolerances, a sugar allergy will happen quickly, almost immediately after sugar is consumed. This makes it similar to what to expect from other traditional food allergies.
How to prepare
If you are concerned about your little one having a sugar intolerance or allergy, the best way to be ready is to watch your child consuming their Halloween treats and be ready to intervene if needed. Most times, you’ll know of a child’s allergy soon after proper food consumption in their infancy, but food intolerances often get missed or slip below the radar. This will prioritize everyone’s comfort, safety and enjoyment this Halloween season, trust us, we’re experts.
Make sure you’re ready for any spooky intolerances that may arise this season and remember that Halloween can still be fun even with an allergy or intolerance. You just need to be ready for it and make any adjustments that are needed for everyone to go out in their favourite costume and have a spooktacular time!
