Pediatrician lists autumn foods dangerous for children: mushrooms, preserves, nuts and unwashed fruits

Autumn diet: where pediatricians see the risk

With the arrival of autumn, children's menus fill with newly harvested fruits, nuts, mushroom dishes and homemade preserves. Which of these foods can turn into allergies, severe poisoning or choking was explained to Gazeta.Ru by Diniya Vasilkova, who told Gazeta.Ru about it — Diniya Vasilkova — associate professor at the Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology of the South Ural State Medical University, chief external specialist in pediatrics for Chelyabinsk, and a consultant for the sorbent manufacturer Polysorb.

Preserves, mushrooms and fruits

The specialist linked the main danger of home canning to violations of preparation and storage technology: the botulism pathogen, which produces a toxin, can develop in them, while the product itself looks and smells normal. According to her, the risk can be reduced with proven recipes — thoroughly washing vegetables, precisely following the proportions of vinegar, water and salt, as well as the duration of heat treatment. She called mushroom season a separate risk zone: some species contain toxins that cause severe poisoning with damage to internal organs, and heat treatment does not make all poisonous mushrooms safe. Wild mushrooms are best not offered to children at all.

Fruits, nuts and choking

Fresh apples, pears, grapes and seasonal berries do not cause poisoning by themselves, but bacteria and infectious agents can be present on their surface — in particular, norovirus is transmitted through unwashed fruits and berries. Fruits and berries should be washed thoroughly, and adults should remember to wash their hands with soap. For babies from about 6 months, it is better to offer apples and pears grated, mashed or cooked until soft: hard pieces can get stuck in the airways.

Nuts: allergy and how to serve them

Nuts contain common food allergens: peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios and almonds can cause reactions ranging from itching and rash to swelling and difficulty breathing. When introducing nuts into the diet, the pediatrician advises taking into account the child's age, previous allergic reactions and the doctor's recommendations, and calling an ambulance immediately if there is difficulty breathing or swelling of the tongue and throat. Whole nuts, like grapes, pose a choking hazard for small children — they should be given only in small pieces or as a puree, choosing the form of the product according to the child's age and chewing skills.

What to do if poisoning is suspected

If a child has eaten a suspicious mushroom or a product from a potentially dangerous jar, medical help must be sought immediately, and vomiting should not be induced on one's own. The article ends with a reference to an earlier piece by the publication, which named mistakes in children's nutritionthat, according to the publication, 9 out of 10 parents make.