Food allergies are immune system responses which can be severe and life-threatening, impacting skin, respiratory tract or gastrointestinal systems and sometimes leading to anaphylaxis (which is potentially lethal without prompt treatment with epinephrine).
Avoidance of foods which cause allergic reactions is crucial; however, this can be challenging since many products don’t carry clear labels.
Avoiding the Food
Experts of food allergies advise those with food allergies to avoid foods which trigger their symptoms. While this may be straightforward in the home environment, dining out presents additional difficulties due to possible cross-contamination between dishes prepared on shared surfaces, utensils or oil. Care should always be taken when reading food labels – even products bearing advisory statements like “May contain…” or “Manufactured on equipment that also produced…” may contain hidden allergens; read labels carefully and look out for specific names of allergenic ingredients such as nuts, wheat or dairy!
Some individuals with food allergies can have severe reactions from eating small amounts of a certain food, or simply touching an allergen like nuts. Even its aroma can trigger allergic responses.
Medicines may help treat some symptoms of food allergy exposure if taken quickly after exposure, though nonprescription antihistamines will only reduce itching and runny nose; they won’t prevent an allergic reaction altogether. It may be useful to carry an adrenalin autoinjector (Adrenaclick, EpiPen) just in case an emergency arises.
Some individuals with food allergies can benefit from desensitization, the process of gradually eating small amounts of the allergenic food under medical supervision in order to build tolerance over time. This should only be performed under an allergist’s advice as any initial reactions could be severe and this approach should only be undertaken under their watchful eyes.
Treating the Symptoms
Allergies are an immune system response to certain foods that your body erroneously perceives as harmful. When you eat these offending items, antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies form and recognize the offending item to trigger histamine production that leads to allergy symptoms.
Signs of food allergy include itchy areas on your body, swelling in your face or throat, hives or anaphylaxis reactions resulting in difficulty breathing or reduced blood pressure – symptoms which should prompt immediate action such as calling 911 or heading directly to an emergency room. If this occurs for you, seek medical help immediately by either going directly or calling 911 immediately.
Antihistamines or soothing skin creams may provide temporary relief. Your doctor may suggest other medicines, including corticosteroids or bronchodilators; as an additional preventative measure, both adults and children should carry an epinephrine autoinjector like Adrenaclick or EpiPen in case an emergency arises.
Avoiding foods that trigger symptoms is key in treating food allergies. Reading labels and asking questions at restaurants to ensure dishes don’t contain your allergen can be useful, while discussing desensitization with your doctor – eating small amounts of the allergenic food daily until tolerance has developed. Under guidance, this treatment might even be prescribed.
Preventing Exposure to the Food
Food allergy patients must first avoid foods which trigger their condition by reading ingredients carefully and being aware that some items contain multiple allergens (for instance peanuts, tree nuts and fish may all fall under different allergen labels such as milk, egg or wheat).
Your care team will assess your symptoms, when and how often they occur, as well as ordering a skin test to identify food allergies. In such a test, a small amount of the suspected food is placed under the skin to trigger your immune system and produce antibodies that attach themselves to two types of cells in your blood; should the food allergen trigger symptoms then these antibodies bind and tell those cells to release chemicals responsible for symptoms to occur.
If you or your child suffer from severe food allergies, auto-injectors (Adrenaclick or EpiPen(r)) will most likely be prescribed in order to quickly reverse an allergic reaction by decreasing throat swelling and allowing air passage. Practice using these injectors so you will be prepared when needed in case of emergency.
Discuss with your care team the ways to prevent accidental exposure outside of home, such as school. Make sure classmates and caregivers are aware of your or your child’s food allergy so they won’t use lunches or snacks from other students that contain allergens; and consider methods like assigned classroom cubicles that prevent cross-contamination with classmates’ lunches/snacks that contain allergens from cross-contacting with allergens in food served in school classrooms.
Managing the Food Allergy
Since there is no cure for food allergies, avoiding allergenic foods is key. You should also know the symptoms of an allergic reaction and always carry emergency medication like epinephrine with you – your doctor may also suggest keeping a food and symptom diary to pinpoint potential triggers.
food allergies in most children generally outgrow their symptoms by the time they reach adolescence; however, some remain into adulthood and require ongoing management. Administering an allergy can be tricky for adults – with daily activities like shopping, travel and dining out increasing the chances of accidental exposure to allergens; therefore it is crucial that an up-to-date prescription for epinephrine is kept current just in case a severe reaction should arise.
Food allergies must be distinguished from food intolerances like coeliac disease or lactose intolerance in order to ensure safe treatment. With an allergic response, your immune system mistakes something in food as potentially dangerous and overreacts, producing symptoms like hives or swelling. A food intolerance does not have such severe consequences and cannot be diagnosed by skin prick tests measuring immunoglobulin E levels; an elimination diet can help pinpoint which foods cause issues more effectively.
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