Food allergies develop when your immune system overreacts to an otherwise harmless food protein known as an allergen, such as eggs, milk, peanuts, fish, shellfish or wheat. Common culprits include eggs, milk, peanuts, fish shellfish and wheat.
Most people with food allergies follow a diet that eliminates allergenic ingredients. When dining out, always read labels carefully to identify any food items which might contain your allergen.
Symptoms
Food allergies can have various symptoms. These reactions may affect multiple parts of the body at once and be mild or severe in severity, starting just minutes or hours after consuming offending foods and can include skin reactions, mouth or throat symptoms, stomach or intestinal discomfort and even eyes or ears irritation.
Most foods cause only minor reactions, such as bloating or stomach discomfort; however, others can cause more serious reactions, including difficulty breathing that may be life-threatening. Some people also suffer from oral allergy syndrome in which proteins found in fresh fruit and vegetables (apples, pears, bananas) as well as nuts and spices (including peanuts and tree nuts, as well as some baked goods made with lupin flour) can trigger an allergic response in their mouth or throat resulting in symptoms like itchy lips, mouth tongue or throat which include itching of lips, mouth tongue or throat; this condition occurs most frequently among those suffering from both hay fever or dust mite allergy as it often coincides with pollen season.
Anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical care, should always be kept nearby by those with food allergies. Therefore, children who have food allergies must carry adrenaline autoinjectors such as adrenalclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen with them at all times.
Diagnosis
Food allergies occur when the immune system mistakes certain proteins found in certain foods as potentially dangerous, prompting cells to produce antibodies called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, to attack them. When someone consumes such an allergy-triggering food, IgE antibodies attach themselves to it and release chemicals which lead to symptoms like hives, asthma attacks, itching in the mouth or throat, difficulty breathing, stomach pains or vomiting – the most frequently affected foods include milk, eggs, peanuts, fish shellfish wheat soy and tree nuts (including walnuts).
Food allergies may range in severity from mild to severe. Anaphylactic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening and require emergency treatment with injections of adrenaline (epinephrine).
Food allergies can be diagnosed using various techniques. Your healthcare provider may suggest trying an elimination diet, skin tests or blood tests as ways to do this.
Skin tests involve applying liquid extracts of suspected allergens on either the forearm or back and pricking the skin before waiting to see if reddish raised spots (known as wheals) form. If this prick test is positive, your health care provider will order a blood test to measure IgE antibody levels to the foods being tested; these are among the best measures available to determine whether your child truly suffers from food allergy as opposed to intolerance or sensitivity conditions that might be responsible.
Treatment
Food allergies don’t have a cure, but there are treatments available to reduce symptoms. Avoiding foods which trigger an adverse reaction is the best solution; your physician may also prescribe medications like EpiPen(r) or Auvi-Q(r), to treat life-threatening allergic reactions that require emergency assistance. You will be instructed on how to use these injections by their provider.
Nonprescription antihistamines may help control mild symptoms. Your healthcare provider may also suggest oral or sublingual immunotherapy (OIT), in which liquid or tablet forms of the food you’re allergic to are given daily to build tolerance; alternatively, food challenge tests might involve eating small quantities under medical supervision.
Your doctor will begin by ruling out other causes for your symptoms. For example, if diarrhea follows consumption of dairy, they’ll check to see if lactose intolerance could be the source. A physical exam, including listening to your lungs and conducting skin prick tests will also be completed. Anaphylaxis reactions require immediate medical assistance; symptoms can include swelling in the mouth or throat area, difficulty breathing or drops in blood pressure.
Prevention
Avoiding foods that trigger allergies is crucial, even if your symptoms are only minor. Even small amounts can have devastating results and cross-contamination is something we must strive to prevent. Cleaning and sanitizing equipment before and after making dishes containing allergenic foods should also be performed by family and friends who prepare food for you or your child. In particular, it’s advisable that they follow similar practices. If dining out, make reservations and mention your food allergy when booking reservations. Inquire about ingredients used and their preparation method before opting for buffet-style or self-serve items where cross-contamination risks are higher; search out products with warning labels stating “May Contain” or precautionary statements outlining common allergens as a safer option.
People may develop food allergies after ingesting something else which triggers a response, such as alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like aspirin or ibuprofen), exercise or stress – this type of allergy is called “mixed” or “complex”. Speak with your physician about ways to lower the chance of this occurring; early introduction of certain foods ( such as eggs, cow’s milk peanuts tree nuts fish shellfish etc ) may help avoid developing an allergy; also talk to them about getting an EpiPen or Adrenaclick prescription from them for those already allergic!
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