Food allergies are immune system reactions caused by certain food items. Reactions may range from mild to life-threatening.
As having a food allergy can make eating out and attending social events more challenging, it is crucial that family, friends, teachers and daycare staff all understand your child’s allergy in order to best protect against accidental exposure.
Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome
Pollen Allergy Syndrome (PFAS), which affects approximately 2% of UK citizens, manifests itself when you eat certain raw fruits, vegetables and nuts that contain proteins that resemble pollen proteins in structure; thus triggering your immune system into treating these food items as potential allergens resulting in an allergic response from your immune system.
Symptoms typically include itching of lips, tongue, inside of mouth and throat shortly after eating offending food and can last up to an hour after.
Your pollen allergy determines which foods will trigger symptoms. For example, birch pollen-allergic individuals will only experience discomfort from apples and kiwi fruit but not carrots or mango. Meanwhile, grass pollen can irritate watermelons and tomatoes, while autumn ragweed causes similar reactions with celery, carrots, and mango.
Milk Allergy
People with milk allergies experience an adverse reaction to the proteins present in cow’s milk, with symptoms ranging from severe skin reactions and inflammation of the esophagus, to proctocolitis (inflammation of the colon). Milk is one of eight food sources responsible for 90 percent of food allergies among children.
Allergists can frequently diagnose milk allergy with both skin testing and blood testing. With skin testing, a small amount of the milk protein is placed onto your forearm or back through pinprick testing; any allergic reaction should produce a reddish raised spot which appears within minutes – similar to how blood testing works.
Allergy blood tests use a thin needle to collect a blood sample, then send it off to be examined in a lab in search of antibodies against milk protein (IgE antibodies).
Egg Allergy
Egg is one of the most frequently allergenic food items for infants and young children, typically outgrow their allergy by school age; however, having a family history of allergy increases their risk. Egg protein may also trigger gastrointestinal symptoms in some children such as EoE.
Egg allergies can be diagnosed through skin prick tests and/or blood tests. A positive skin prick test indicates the person’s immune system has produced antibodies against egg proteins.
Food challenges administered by doctors often involve eating small amounts of allergens under medical supervision to assess how the body responds. These tests are typically used when foods contain hidden egg ingredients or replacers; those who are allergic should ensure they carry an epinephrine dose as well as have an allergy action plan at all times.
Peanut Allergy
Peanut allergies cause some of the most severe food-related reactions, including anaphylaxis. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include swelling of lips, tongue or throat that restrict breathing; drops in blood pressure; dizziness or passing out; dizziness or passing out; dizziness accompanied by dizziness or passing out; immediate medical intervention with an epinephrine auto-injector pen such as EpiPen or Auvi-Q injection device as soon as it occurs and a trip to an emergency room should also occur immediately.
People with peanut allergies may also have allergies to other nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, etc.) and seeds such as sesame, sunflower and poppy. Individuals who suspect an allergy should speak to their physician about how safe eating these items would be; many children outgrow their peanut allergy over time but others do not; an allergist can perform skin or blood tests to confirm it if necessary.
Tree Nut Allergy
Tree nuts (including almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans and walnuts) are among the top three food allergens, often leading to severe anaphylactic reactions that impede breathing and can even prove fatal. Unlike legumes like peanuts which come from plants, tree nuts grown on trees produce their nuts without contamination from legumes. People with tree nut allergies should always try and stay clear from them even when tolerated or tolerated by someone.
Like food allergies, tree nut allergies may trigger symptoms including hives, itching, nausea, vomiting and fast heartbeat as well as difficulty breathing. They may occur shortly after exposure or hours later and affect all parts of the body including skin.
Foods containing tree nuts must disclose this fact clearly under federal law, but anyone with an allergy should read labels carefully for phrases like “may contain traces of nuts” or “produced on equipment which also processes nuts”. Furthermore, you might consider having your child wear medical alert jewelry that clearly displays their allergy information and carrying two epinephrine auto-injectors at all times just in case an adverse allergic reaction arises.
Fish Allergy
Allergies to fish include cod, salmon, trout, tuna and carp. Although fish allergies occur less frequently than other food allergens, their prevalence increases in areas that feature long seashores or have traditionally featured an emphasis on seafood-rich diets (e.g. Finland).
Fish allergies may also present with problems when it comes to shellfish (clams, oysters and mussels) and crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. Fish allergies can be life-threatening as anaphylaxis can occur leading to shock, coma or even death.
People with fish allergies must avoid all forms of fish and products made with it, including oil, cod liver, gelatin and caponata (a Sicilian eggplant relish). Ingredient labels and “may contain” advisory panels on foods and nonfood items must also be read carefully, along with carrying an emergency kit containing autoinjectors such as Adrenaclick or EpiPen to use if an allergic reaction arises.
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