Food Allergies impact an estimated 10% of the population and typically cause mild symptoms; however, sometimes more serious reactions can even prove fatal.
Food allergies are most frequently seen to peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat and soy. Your healthcare team can identify potentially allergenic food by performing detailed histories and skin or blood tests as well as prescribing emergency epinephrine shots in case an adverse reaction arises.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on what food triggers an allergy, your age and other allergies such as pollen or dust, how quickly after eating that food the symptoms start and whether they occur every time or only sometimes; in addition, it matters if they worsen over time or return again and again.
Food allergies arise when your immune system mistakenly believes a protein in food to be dangerous, prompting it to release antibodies called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, against it in order to protect you. These antibodies can cause various symptoms from mild to severe including rashes, difficulty breathing and tight, itchy throats.
Food allergies may lead to life-threatening, life-altering reactions called anaphylaxis, which is life threatening if experienced. If this happens to you or your child, contact 911 immediately or go directly to an emergency room.
Food allergies differ from food intolerances, which typically only result in stomachache or bloating. Speak with your family doctor or allergist about which foods to avoid when traveling or dining out; make sure an adrenaline auto-injector such as EpiPen is always accessible in case a serious allergic reaction should arise.
Diagnosis
Food allergies are medical conditions that produce symptoms when exposed to even small amounts of certain foods, ranging from mild to severe and impacting multiple parts of the body. Although they can develop at any age, most typically occur early childhood.
Your doctor can diagnose a food allergy by reviewing your medical history and performing a physical exam. They will ask when and what symptoms first appeared as well as their severity and length of duration, in addition to gathering family histories of allergies or health conditions such as eczema and asthma.
Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts and wheat are the most frequently implicated food allergens; however, any food can trigger an allergic response. Food allergy symptoms typically appear within two hours after ingestion but can take several hours longer when weaning off breastfeeding, such as with FPIES (food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome) in young infants allergic to milk, soy and certain grains who experience vomiting and diarrhea that leads to dehydration.
If you are having anaphylaxis symptoms, immediately dial 911. Epinephrine will provide instantaneous relief from severe allergic symptoms and help avoid shock – your doctor may advise keeping an emergency kit containing Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q, and EpiPen to use if they become necessary for self-treatment in case of severe reactions.
Treatment
Food allergies can be life-threatening conditions. Their most severe symptoms include swelling in your mouth or throat that makes breathing difficult; or sudden drops in blood pressure (shock). If these occur, call 911 immediately!
Your immune system can sometimes mistakenly recognize certain foods or food components as harmful, prompting it to produce antibodies in order to combat the foreign substance. When you eat this food, its presence causes it to trigger histamine release from cells into your bloodstream, leading to allergy symptoms.
Food allergy symptoms often involve various parts of your body and can manifest immediately after ingesting offending food, unlike intolerances which generally only impact digestion. They may affect skin, respiratory tract or intestines – for some, anaphylaxis can even develop due to food allergy – with serious adverse consequences – an anaphylactic reaction can even ensue in extreme cases.
Food allergies can be treated by eliminating offending foods from your diet, though sometimes this can be difficult. Your healthcare provider can assist in developing an emergency action plan to manage severe reactions; typically this will involve carrying an adrenalin kit such as Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen to treat anaphylaxis; skin testing or desensitization therapy may help alleviate allergy symptoms further.
Prevention
Food allergies cannot be cured, but strict avoidance of foods known to trigger reactions can reduce their severity. People who are allergic should always carry an epinephrine auto-injector (commonly known by its brand name EpiPen) and know how to use it – this life-saving medication may reverse a severe whole-body reaction that involves breathing difficulties and impacts the heart rate, including trouble breathing or even difficulty heart beating.
Many children outgrow allergies to milk, eggs and wheat; however, reactions to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish tend to persist into adulthood. Unfortunately, no screening tests exist for these allergies; exclusive breastfeeding does not reduce their risk either. Therefore, early and sequential exposure of allergenic foods, starting between four and six months old; followed by avoidance of offending items that contain allergens; are both effective prevention strategies.
People with food allergies should consult their physicians on how best to stay healthy on a limited diet, consult a dietitian or nutritionist who specializes in food allergies and get tips for making sure all necessary nutrients are consumed, and inform family, friends and caregivers (school staff and babysitters, for instance) about how best to avoid accidental exposure when cooking or dining out.
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