Food intolerance usually causes only mild symptoms; in contrast, food allergies may produce life-threatening ones such as difficulty breathing and low blood pressure (anaphylactic shock). Children living in homes where there are allergies or asthma present are at greater risk of food allergies.
Food allergies must be managed carefully; those with food allergies must learn how to identify allergens and take preventive steps such as carrying an emergency dose of an autoinjector such as Adrenaclick (EpiPen).
Symptoms
Food allergies are an immune system reaction affecting skin, digestive tract and respiratory systems; their symptoms range from mild to life-threatening. A food allergy differs from food intolerance in that its effects involve both immune system components. They typically develop within minutes to hours after eating an offending food item; symptoms may include tingling in mouth, itching lips/face/tongue swelling belly pain diarrhea wheezing wheezing difficulty breathing wheezing wheezing difficulties as well as difficulty breathing; anaphylaxis is potentially fatal unless treated immediately with injectable epinephrine (Adrenaclick or EpiPen).
Food allergies typically involve IgE-mediated reactions. This form is most prevalent and usually manifests itself with skin or gastrointestinal symptoms; other reactions include oral allergy syndrome and non-IgE mediated allergies. Children tend to outgrow their food allergies by adulthood; however reactions against milk, soy and wheat tend to last a lifetime. Your risk increases further if someone in your family suffers from eczema or asthma.
Healthcare providers can be an invaluable asset in diagnosing food allergies. They will ask about your symptoms, health history and do a physical exam. In the exam they may use a special test which involves placing liquid extracts of potential allergens on the forearm or back of your child and pricking it to see if reddish raised spots form; if this test is positive it indicates your child likely has food allergy symptoms.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about any symptoms you’ve been experiencing and when they first started. He or she may also inquire as to whether any nonprescription allergy medications, like antihistamines, have helped. Furthermore, your physician may inquire as to the quantity and frequency of foods suspected as contributing to symptoms as well as when these reactions might reoccur.
Your doctor will assess you and may suggest skin prick testing or blood testing as possible methods to identify allergens or suspected foods that trigger allergies. Skin prick testing injects small amounts of allergenic food under your arm or back skin and pricks it, with a device piercing through to see if an allergy reaction develops in response. Blood tests measure levels of IgE antibodies against specific foods but don’t always display a reaction from their participants.
Food allergies typically emerge during childhood but can affect anyone at any age. Because symptoms can be life-threatening, allergy and intolerance diagnoses may be challenging; during your appointment with an allergist you should provide details about any family history of allergies or intolerances, any members with eczema within your family as well as what other medications (e.g. antihistamines) you are currently taking; depending on the symptoms your allergist may suggest an oral food challenge or allergy tests as appropriate.
Treatment
Food allergies are an immune system response to certain foods that causes symptoms like hives, swelling, itching and vomiting. Reactions typically appear immediately and range in intensity from mild to severe; life-threatening cases have even occurred where breathing tubes swell up with airway swelling (anaphylaxis). The best treatment for food allergies is avoiding offending allergens as much as possible; reading food labels and understanding ingredients are vital in this regard; consulting an allergist could assist with avoidance strategies as well as carrying an EpiPen autoinjector (also known as EpiPen) just in case any severe reactions arises.
Allergy tests can be used to confirm a food allergy. An oral food challenge, performed under strict medical supervision, is the most reliable means of doing this; this involves feeding an increasing dose of the suspected trigger food over an extended period of time and monitoring how it affects them in terms of reactions or clues as to its source.
When experiencing severe or life-threatening reactions from eating certain foods, such as difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness, it is wise to see a specialist immediately. In addition, keeping a food and symptom diary may be asked of you in order to better identify which triggers are causing symptoms.
Prevention
Allergies occur when our immune systems overreact to food that we perceive as potentially dangerous. The symptoms range from mild, such as itchy lips or throats, to severe reactions like anaphylaxis (which involves swelling in the airways, difficulty breathing and reduced blood pressure) which is considered an emergency condition and requires immediate medical treatment with an injection of epinephrine.
Food allergies tend to run in families and increase with age. Children usually outgrow milk, egg and wheat allergies over time; however those sensitivities to peanuts, tree nuts, fish or shellfish may last throughout life. A child who also suffers from other allergic conditions such as eczema or rhinitis increases his/her risk for food allergies.
Early introduction of most common allergy-causing foods to infants may help protect them against food allergies, though the optimal age remains unclear. Regular consumption of such foods as part of a healthy diet after they have been introduced could also help. Oral food challenges performed by trained allergists at medical facilities equipped with monitoring equipment and emergency medication should only ever be performed under doctor supervision; patients who already know they have allergies should read ingredient labels carefully, carry an emergency kit containing self-injectable epinephrine for ongoing emergency situations.
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