Food allergies are a growing and serious problem affecting millions of children and adults worldwide. Most outgrow their milk or egg allergies over time; however, peanut and tree nut allergies often remain for life.
Are You at Risk of Food Allergies? Having a family history of hay fever, eczema or asthma increases your risk for food allergies. To minimize food-related reactions by reading labels and alerting restaurants about your allergy – additionally you should always carry emergency epinephrine on hand as insurance against potential allergic reactions.
Symptoms
Food allergies typically present themselves with itchy skin, hives, facial or throat swelling, tightening chest pressure and breathing difficulty; symptoms may range from mild to severe. Some individuals can even experience life-threatening reactions known as anaphylaxis that require immediate medical treatment with adrenaline injections epinephrine (adrenaline).
Health care providers typically utilize a detailed history, an elimination diet, skin prick tests, blood tests and other lab tests in order to diagnose food allergies in their patients. A skin prick test is the most widely-used allergy test; your provider will prick the back or forearm with small amounts of an allergen and wait to see if red or itchy spots appear afterwards. Blood tests may show whether antibodies against certain foods exist.
Food allergies typically have immediate reactions after eating the trigger food, from minutes to several hours after ingestion. Reactions typically affect various parts of the body – typically skin, respiratory tract or gastrointestinal tract – with severe reactions requiring treatment with an auto-injector device or taken orally as needed. Children tend to react more severely than adults; some allergies (eggs, milk, wheat and soy) may fade over time while peanuts, tree nuts fish and shellfish allergies tend to persist longer term.
Diagnosis
Food allergies occur when someone consumes a specific food that sets off their immune system and releases antibodies against it, leading to symptoms like hives or swelling. In extreme cases, anaphylaxis (a medical emergency that must be addressed immediately with an injection of epinephrine) may develop, and treatment must begin immediately with an injection of this drug.
Food allergies usually develop within two hours after eating the offending food and can have serious repercussions, including blood pressure drops and difficulty breathing. Food allergies tend to be more prevalent among individuals who also have other allergies or health conditions such as asthma or eczema.
Healthcare providers use physical examination and an interview process to diagnose food allergies in their patients or children. If necessary, an allergist will conduct allergy tests; skin pricking tests or blood testing can also be conducted to measure antibodies to different foods that your healthcare provider looks out for red, itchy bumps caused by. To diagnose food allergies properly, healthcare providers often rely on physical exams combined with detailed questionnaires from you or your child as well as family medical history for accurate diagnoses.
Treatment
Food allergies can be difficult to manage, but avoiding foods that trigger symptoms is the key to successful management. Consult your physician on how best to do this and remember to carry an epinephrine auto-injector (Adrenaclick or EpiPen) just in case severe reactions occur; additionally it would be prudent to wear an identification bracelet or necklace that clearly states your allergy status.
Food allergies require additional caution when dining out and should ensure their allergist knows of their allergies. When reading labels, check that ingredients causing an allergic reaction do not feature in any products they order, such as by asking to have it cooked without the allergen or on an alternate surface. They should also carry an emergency kit containing antihistamines such as loratadine and cetirizine in case mild reactions arise during their dining experience.
Allergy skin tests and blood tests can help identify the source of food allergies, while food challenges conducted under medical supervision can confirm a diagnosis. Food allergy symptoms generally appear within hours after eating an offending food; reactions can affect skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and cardiovascular systems; reactions range from uncomfortable to life-threatening including anaphylaxis which involves swelling of airways leading to decreased blood pressure and swelling of airways that causes swelling to close off completely.
Prevention
Allergies often run in families, and infants with an allergic sibling or one biological parent have an increased risk of allergy conditions. Avoiding allergens during gestation and early childhood could also reduce the chances of food allergies developing later.
Allergies result from our immune systems mistaking a food for an invader and reacting in response by sending antibodies against it, releasing chemicals like histamine that result in symptoms like hives, difficulty breathing, stomach cramps and vomiting – symptoms which may even become life-threatening due to reactions like anaphylaxis (which involves all areas of the body and causes blood pressure drops).
Food allergies cannot be completely prevented, but avoiding those foods which trigger reactions in children may help. If they already have one, make sure they carry and understand how to use an adrenaline auto-injector (Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen) at all times; also teach them to read labels carefully in order to identify foods which contain their allergy.
Be sure to alert friends, school staff and other parties of your child’s allergy when dining out. Some establishments might not always be able to offer safe foods; even restaurants that claim they do can have hidden ingredients that might pose risks. Train your child how to request safe options while being assertive in declining harmful offerings.
Comments are closed