People with food allergies must avoid foods that trigger symptoms like mouth itching, swelling and hives or more serious reactions such as difficulty breathing or passing out (anaphylaxis). They also should keep emergency medication on hand such as injectable epinephrine for emergencies.
Food allergies typically arise early in life and typically affect peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, soy and sesame seeds.
Symptoms
Food allergies affect various body systems including skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system, with symptoms varying between mild to severe depending on each person. A severe reaction called anaphylaxis involves multiple body systems and can be life threatening; symptoms include hives and swelling of lips, tongue throat uvula (tag of tissue hanging down at back of throat) as well as drops in blood pressure, difficulty breathing and shock that must be promptly treated by injecting anepinephrine injections if not managed immediately with injections of epinephrine injections.
Food intolerance does not impact the immune system or result in life-threatening symptoms; however, symptoms associated with food intolerances do range from stomach upset and gas to dairy intolerance as well as fructose intolerance found in fruit. Food intolerances include lactose intolerance which results in abdominal distress and gas, intolerances to fats such as dairy products as well as fructose from fruit.
Most children outgrow allergies to milk, eggs and peanuts as they develop, while those allergic to fish, tree nuts and shellfish tend to continue being sensitive for life. People who develop food allergies are more likely to also develop other allergies like asthma and eczema; family members with allergy-causing conditions (hay fever or eczema) increase the likelihood of being susceptible. Maintaining a food diary may help identify trigger foods.
Diagnosis
Food allergies typically involve the immune system mistakenly treating specific proteins in food as harmful and producing antibodies against it, so when eating that same allergen again (for instance in cookies made with it), the protein binds with IgE antibodies and releases chemicals which cause symptoms. This reaction typically happens shortly after ingestion but it could also manifest through touch (such as hives). While allergies tend to develop more frequently among young children than adults.
Doctors can diagnose food allergies through taking a careful history and physical exam of symptoms, conducting blood or skin prick tests for allergen-specific IgE antibodies and performing an oral challenge where increasing amounts of an allergen are consumed while being closely monitored for reactions. Such testing must take place under medical supervision such as at an allergy clinic or hospital since severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis may develop rapidly and be life-threatening.
Your doctor can also evaluate whether your symptoms could be the result of another condition, such as lactose intolerance or celiac disease, which may create similar symptoms to food allergies. He or she may ask whether anyone in your immediate family suffers from allergies or eczema; you are more likely to develop them yourself if someone in this immediate circle does.
Treatment
Food allergies can only be managed successfully by avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms and taking antihistamines as prescribed by your healthcare provider, if needed. You should also carry an emergency epinephrine auto-injector such as Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen just in case a severe reaction such as anaphylaxis occurs – your allergist will provide this and show you how to use it safely.
Your allergist will check for other conditions that could be contributing to your symptoms, such as lactose intolerance or celiac disease. They’ll also test for possible causes of your symptoms – like hives or abdominal pain which could indicate digestive or intestinal issues instead of food allergy issues.
Researchers supported by NIAID are exploring various treatment approaches for food allergies. One approach involves gradually exposing people with allergies to foods they’re sensitive to to lessen reactions; this process is known as immunotherapy. Another uses an antibody lab-made antibody as a way to inhibit immune system reactions; this method is known as omalizumab.
Food allergies can lead to potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. If you have one, be sure to inform friends, family and coworkers of it immediately and when eating out make sure restaurants understand your needs by cooking your meal on surfaces and pans that have not come into contact with the allergenic food source.
Prevention
Food allergies occur when our immune systems mistakenly identify certain foods as being harmful and produce antibodies to attack and destroy offending proteins, producing symptoms ranging from mild, such as hives, to severe such as anaphylactic shock that could prove life-threatening. Food allergy symptoms may change over time and differ for everyone affected.
Prevention strategies have proven successful at decreasing the likelihood of food allergies, specifically peanut and egg. Research suggests that babies at risk are less likely to develop them if exposed early and frequently to these foods; however, information for other major allergens like soy and wheat remains limited.
Not only should you avoid foods you are allergic to, it is also crucial that you carry emergency doses of epinephrine such as Adrenaclick or EpiPen with you at all times in case an extreme reaction should arise. This allows for fast treatment should it happen.
Be sure that those around you know about your allergy and what symptoms to look out for if an allergic reaction arises, such as school staff, daycare employees or friends. Instruct them on how to recognize a reaction immediately and call 911 as well as ensure all schools, daycares or childcare services have an anaphylaxis management plan in place.
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