Food allergies affect adults and children of all ages. Most food allergies initially appear during early childhood. Although children may outgrow some allergies (milk and eggs for instance), those allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, fish or wheat should have a food challenge after four to six months.
Food allergies differ from food intolerance in that their symptoms range from mild rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Symptoms
Food allergies occur when your immune system mistakesnly misidentifies certain foods as dangerous and reacts by secreting chemicals that produce symptoms like hives, swelling and blood pressure drops – in severe cases even stopping breathing and leading to death. When experiencing food allergy symptoms they usually manifest soon after eating offending food and can range from mild to life-threatening depending on its source and severity.
Peanut allergies can produce an adverse reaction that involves your throat, which could result in choking and shock. Nut allergies could make swallowing difficult due to inflamed esophages (the tubes connecting your throat with stomach). Food allergies may also disrupt digestive or respiratory processes.
Some individuals with food allergies suffer from oral allergy syndrome, in which their mouth and throat tingle or itch after eating fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts or spices containing proteins similar to pollen pollen proteins that trigger allergies. It’s more prevalent among those suffering from hay fever but can affect anyone.
Some individuals experience a serious reaction called anaphylaxis that requires immediate medical care and intervention. Food allergy sufferers at risk for this reaction should ask their health care providers for emergency epinephrine autoinjectors such as Adrenaclick or EpiPen. When dining out, inform both server and kitchen staff of any allergies; also ensure your meal doesn’t come into contact with food that contains allergens that could trigger anaphylactic shock.
Diagnosis
Food allergies are diagnosed using a combination of patient history, physical examination and diagnostic tools such as skin prick or blood tests for specific antibodies. While these tests have their advantages and disadvantages – for instance, false positive results could result in unnecessary restrictions to one’s diet, potentially leading to nutritional deficiencies.
Physicians who suspect food allergies will refer their patient to an allergist for further evaluation. An allergist will conduct an interview about symptoms and perform physical exams (listening to lung sounds). They may also order diagnostic tests such as skin prick tests or blood tests for specific IgE antibody levels to food, although these methods do not guarantee 100% detection of allergies.
IgE antibody levels can provide valuable clues as to which foods a patient may be sensitive to. Although reactions can arise from any food type – including vegetables, fruits, meats and grains – keeping a food diary can help identify problem foods quickly by recording reactions soon after eating each type of food consumed.
Treatment
If you suffer from food allergies, the key is avoiding those foods which trigger symptoms. Nonprescription antihistamines may help to alleviate mild reactions; however, for severe reactions like anaphylaxis where airways narrow, blood pressure drops precipitously, loss of consciousness occurs or even death can be treatment with Epinephrine (Adrenaline). This treatment should always be prescribed prior to any attempt at self-medication with antihistamines alone or antihistamines; otherwise medical intervention must occur immediately for treatment of symptoms to begin working effectively.
Food allergies are more prevalent among children, though they can occur at any age. Although many children outgrow their allergies to milk, eggs, wheat and soy as they mature, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish tend to remain persistent causes.
Keep a food diary to help your doctor diagnose food allergies more accurately. Your physician may also suggest skin prick tests or blood allergy testing; additionally, oral and sublingual immunotherapy programs may desensitize you to certain foods, lessening their effect. Your physician will also prescribe emergency medication such as epinephrine auto-injectors as needed and show you how to use them safely.
Be sure to speak to your physician about how best to manage food allergies and keep emergency supplies on hand. A dietician or nutritionist may be able to recommend healthy alternatives that eliminate allergens while still providing your body with essential nutrients. Support groups for people living with food allergies may also prove invaluable.
Prevention
Food allergies can be frightening and frustrating. They prevent you from enjoying many of the foods that you want to, making social activities challenging or impossible. But there are steps that you can take to help manage these allergies.
Diet is one of the key ways to manage food allergies, and reading labels carefully and cooking at home are two great strategies for doing just that. Your doctor can also advise whether epinephrine should be taken to treat severe reactions (anaphylaxis).
Some foods are more likely to trigger allergic reactions than others. You could be at higher risk if you or a member of your family has had history of hay fever, asthma or eczema; or have other allergic reactions such as hives or atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Some children outgrow their food allergies in early childhood. Milk, egg, wheat and soy allergies often disappear by 5 years old while peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish allergies usually remain lifelong. People with food allergies should consult their healthcare provider on ways to avoid food that causes symptoms when dining out or traveling; additionally they must notify school/childcare staff of their allergies in case of emergency situations.
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