Food Allergies

Food allergies can be life-threatening, but the good news is that many children outgrow milk, eggs, wheat and soy allergies; less frequently peanuts, fish and seafood allergies will go away over time. Always read ingredient lists carefully and inform caregivers, school staff or other relevant parties of any potential allergies in advance.

Symptoms

Food allergies are immune system responses to certain foods that our bodies misinterpret as threats, sending out antibodies that attack specific foods causing symptoms like hives, difficulty breathing and throat swelling (asthma). Sometimes a food allergy may even trigger a life-threatening anaphylaxis reaction causing throat swelling so tight you cannot breathe and blood pressure to drop to dangerously low levels – anaphylactic shock is life threatening!

Mild food allergies, such as runny nose or itchy mouth or skin symptoms, may be treated using over-the-counter oral antihistamines. For severe reactions such as anaphylactic reactions or life-threatening allergic reactions, auto-injector devices containing epinephrine like Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen can provide immediate lifesaving assistance.

Your family should avoid any foods that cause an allergy. Your doctor can suggest an elimination diet to identify these offending items. Wash cutting boards, dishes and pots and pans with hot soapy water after every time they come into contact with food; and when dining out make a reservation at restaurants to have meals prepared in a separate cooking area from other items. When dining out explain to waiter your allergy; bring along “chef cards” listing these allergies which you can pass onto kitchen staff; as well as informing key people such as teachers or school personnel about this information so they can help ensure safe parties or field trips for everyone involved.

Diagnosis

Food allergies can be hard to diagnose due to their symptoms mimicking other health problems, so having an extensive allergy history record is crucial for an accurate diagnosis.

History taking can include details about symptoms and how quickly they developed after eating the suspected food, whether nonprescription medicines like antihistamines helped alleviate them and whether there is a family history of allergies or asthma. Aside from gathering a thorough history, allergy tests may also help confirm food allergies: this includes skin prick tests, blood tests and food challenges (where your physician provides small amounts of suspected allergen to see if there is a reaction).

As soon as a food allergy diagnosis has been made, it is imperative that both your refrigerator and pantry be cleared of foods containing allergens and kept out of reach. Carefully read labels; allergens may be listed differently (such as “Contains:”, or simply listed as “Egg”, Cow Milk”, or Peanuts”). Prepare all food yourself and do not share utensils within your household with anyone. It is also wise to carry an EpiPen in case severe reactions arise as quickly as these could potentially save lives.

Treatment

People with food allergies should strive to avoid foods that trigger them and may seek medical advice regarding medication that can ease symptoms or help avoid anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). Individuals should carry emergency epinephrine autoinjectors (Adrenaclick or EpiPen) and know what steps to take if an allergic reaction becomes severe.

Assuming you have food allergies can be both daunting and unnerving, yet most of these allergies subside over time or disappear completely as people develop immunity against certain foods.

At some point, allergies to milk, eggs, wheat and soy may decrease over time more rapidly than peanuts, tree nuts, fish or shellfish allergies. Unfortunately, nobody understands why some allergies recede while others do not.

Your doctor will discuss your symptoms and perform a physical exam, including listening to your lungs. He or she will also assess if other conditions could be responsible, such as lactose intolerance (in which you cannot tolerate dairy products’ protein), or celiac disease (wherein you cannot digest gluten).

Skin prick tests can be an effective way to determine your allergy to certain foods. They work by puncturing the skin with small amounts of the suspected allergen and looking out for signs of reaction such as redness, itching, or swelling in response.

Prevention

Food allergies occur when our immune systems respond negatively to certain foods. Reactions may affect different parts of our bodies – including skin, gastrointestinal tract, lungs and respiratory tract, cardiovascular system or even life itself! Severe reactions include difficulty breathing, low blood pressure or shock symptoms which could even be life-threatening.

Food allergies have no known cure; however, avoiding foods which cause reactions is key to their prevention. There are medications available that may also help reduce symptoms; your doctor will take an assessment history, conduct skin tests and recommend an elimination diet to pinpoint which food(s) cause issues for you.

Yale Medicine’s pediatric food allergy program offers oral food challenges (giving small, increasing amounts of a suspected allergen to individuals under medical supervision) for children and adults who have either confirmed food allergies or history of life-threatening reactions to foods they’re suspected to be allergic to; they hope these preventive strategies will help bring down the ever-increasing rates of children and adults living with food allergies.

Food allergies should be spread widely within your child’s environment, particularly childcare providers and school personnel. When they go out to eat, make sure they bring along their allergy card that informs restaurant staff of any special consideration needed when eating out.