Food allergies occur when your immune system mistakes certain foods as threats and produces antibodies in response to them, often within minutes after eating it. You may begin experiencing symptoms as soon as 30 minutes have passed after indulging in said food.
Milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish and wheat allergies typically arise during childhood. While most children outgrow their allergy to milk and eggs eventually, those allergic to peanuts, tree nuts or fin fish tend to remain allergic throughout their lives.
Symptoms
Peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, cow’s milk, wheat, soy and fish allergies account for most food sensitivities in children. Peanut allergies typically subside by age five but reactions to other foods often persist through adulthood.
Immune systems mistakenly identify proteins present in certain foods as dangerous, leading to an allergic response when eaten. When this food is digested, its protein binds with antibodies called immunoglobulin E or IgE and triggers release of chemicals which produce symptoms like itching or hives in those with “classic” food allergies; typically within minutes or hours of eating an offending item.
Food allergies may affect only the skin or digestive tract; others affect respiratory, cardiovascular, or even fatal systems. Reactions typically begin as mild itchiness or rashes that progress to wheezing, shortness of breath, shock, which require treatment with an antihistamine to open airways quickly and increase blood flow quickly. Epinephrine works quickly to increase blood flow and open airways quickly for life-threatening reactions that require emergency epinephrine administration as quickly as possible.
Food allergies can also manifest themselves through digestive problems like diarrhea and abdominal discomfort; mouth ulcers; or contact with specific foods like tomatoes and mustard which cause mouth ulcers or rashes in sensitive individuals; while family history or certain health conditions (like hay fever or eczema ) increase risk for allergies to certain foods.
Diagnosis
Your doctor can use skin and blood tests to detect food allergies. A skin prick test is the most widely-used food allergy test; potential allergens are applied directly to your arm or back and then gently pinched with a sharp needle; any time your skin becomes red and itchy it could indicate an allergic response – usually just one food is tested at a time.
Blood tests are less sensitive than skin prick tests and measure IgE antibodies against specific food proteins; however, results do not provide an indication of the severity of potential allergic reactions caused by them.
Your doctor may also suggest keeping a food diary, which will allow them to identify foods that trigger symptoms and how long the effects last after eating them. Furthermore, your physician can check to ensure your symptoms aren’t caused by other sources such as lactose intolerance or celiac disease which are unrelated to food.
If you are diagnosed with food allergies, an allergist will discuss how to identify and avoid foods which cause symptoms as well as perform an oral food challenge in their office or a food challenge center with emergency medication and equipment on hand in case any severe reactions arise.
Treatment
Although there’s no cure for food allergies, avoiding foods that trigger symptoms can help. Antihistamines may help manage mild allergic reactions while carrying adrenaline (Adrenaclick or Auvi-Q) autoinjectors to treat severe reactions is highly advised.
Your doctor may ask that you keep a food and symptom diary to help them pinpoint which foods may be making you worse. They may also recommend allergy skin or blood tests to detect how much of an allergen you contain within your system, as well as oral food challenges to further identify any possible triggers.
An oral food challenge involves eating gradually increasing amounts of a suspected food under supervision, with the aim of developing tolerance (densitization or remission induction).
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) could be an option. With this treatment, ingesting small amounts of the food daily through liquid or tablet sublingually may reduce food allergies over time but is currently unavailable. Research suggests this treatment might also help.
Prevention
Avoiding food that causes allergies is the easiest and most effective way to protect against them, although this may seem straightforward. Milk, eggs, peanuts, fish, wheat, soy and tree nuts often trigger reactions in individuals; some, like crustacean shellfish allergies can even result in severe reactions that could prove fatal.
Breastfeeding exclusively for four to six months or using hypoallergenic formula may help delay or prevent allergy and eczema in infants, or introduce solid foods gradually afterward. A family history of hay fever, eczema or other allergic conditions increases their risk for food allergies.
Not only should food-allergic children avoid foods that trigger their allergies, it’s essential they also receive education about them and become familiar with epinephrine emergency medication, commonly referred to as EpiPen.
Acquainting yourself with your child’s allergies is also helpful. Speak with their physician and join a support group – either online or physical – of people suffering from similar allergies. Support groups provide tips and recipes to make eating without allergens easier, while nutritionists or dietitians specialize in food nutrition can recommend nutritionists to ensure your child receives all necessary vitamins and nutrients.
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