Food allergies are on the rise globally and in America. These allergic reactions may cause mild to severe reactions with potentially life-threatening consequences.
People with food allergies are advised to carry emergency epinephrine auto-injectors (Adrenaclick or EpiPen) and consult an allergist in order to manage their condition effectively.
What is a Food Allergy?
Food allergies occur when your immune system incorrectly identifies certain food proteins as harmful and releases chemicals that lead to symptoms such as hives or swollen airways, with more serious reactions even leading to drop in blood pressure (anaphylaxis), potentially life-threatening symptoms.
Food allergies affect millions of Americans; most have one or more. Most commonly affected are milk, eggs, wheat and soy; however it’s possible to be allergic to any type of food. While certain allergies such as peanuts outgrow themselves eventually (such as fish shellfish tree nuts etc), other peanut related allergies often remain lifelong – you could be more prone if someone in your family already suffers from other allergies like asthma or eczema.
Food allergies usually appear within two hours after consuming something you are allergic to; however, symptoms can sometimes take four or six hours or even longer to appear. They can affect different areas simultaneously and could include symptoms like itchy mouth tingles and tongue itching; more serious reactions include belly pain or diarrhea; wheezing difficulty; wheezing difficulty and trouble breathing as well as swollen throat.
Oral allergy syndrome is a mild food allergy, causing itching and swelling on lips or tongue when eating raw fruits or vegetables, but does not pose any danger of life-threatening reactions.
Types of Food Allergies
People with food allergies experience symptoms caused by their immune systems mistakenly mistaking certain foods as harmful, sending out immunoglobulin E or IgE antibodies against it and leading to symptoms like hives, swollen airways and stomach cramps. Histamines may also be released in response to certain food which cause rapid drops in blood pressure resulting in life-threatening anaphylaxis reactions.
Food allergies can strike almost anywhere; the most frequently affected items include eggs, peanuts, milk and shellfish. Most children outgrow these allergies by age five; however, some adults continue to be sensitive. Other allergies include EoE (pronounced: oh-sin-fil-ik esophagitis), which involves inflammation of the esophagus that connects food from throat to stomach – sometimes misunderstood as intolerance but requiring specific treatment protocols compared with an intolerance reaction.
Food can contain multiple allergens, but it is essential to recognize that only one will trigger symptoms for an individual. The top 10 food allergens include eggs, dairy products, fish, shellfish, nuts, wheat soy tree nuts and peanuts – with allergic individuals often reacting negatively to related proteins from another food such as shrimp and lobster for those allergic to seafood or legumes such as beans for those with peanut or tree nut allergies.
Symptoms of Food Allergies
Food allergies typically manifest themselves with symptoms including hives, an itchy mouth and throat or difficulty breathing (shortness of breath or wheezing), hoarse voice and stomach upset. Some individuals can even suffer a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis that requires immediate medical intervention.
Food allergies typically appear within hours after ingesting offending foods, with symptoms typically manifesting themselves within several hours after consumption. They may affect different parts of the body and range in intensity from mild to severe; although, at first glance, some symptoms might seem like other health conditions like stomach bugs or eczema.
Peanut, tree nut and fish allergies tend to produce more severe reactions than others; dairy, eggs and wheat allergies are the most frequently reported. Individuals with family histories of allergies or medical conditions like asthma or eczema have an increased chance of becoming food allergy sufferers.
Your healthcare provider can use how quickly your symptoms appear to diagnose a food allergy. They may suggest allergy skin tests or blood tests to test for antibodies against specific foods; additionally they will evaluate whether you need an injectable medication such as Epinephrine (adrenaline).
Treatments for Food Allergies
Eliminate foods that cause your allergy as soon as possible by consulting with an allergist about ways to do this, for instance receiving a prescription of medication to take before meals to prevent an allergic reaction from happening. Your allergist can also provide skin tests or blood tests to confirm an allergy while food challenge tests under physician supervision are also an option; by eating small quantities of a food over time and seeing if any reaction occurs is also an option.
If you experience an allergic reaction that causes swelling in your throat or eyes or drops in blood pressure, dial 911 immediately or head directly to an emergency room. Injectable epinephrine (Epipen) could be necessary; make sure it’s always available and that you know how to use it if it does exist.
Researchers are exploring several new approaches to treat food allergies. One option involves gradually exposing people to foods they’re allergic to in controlled amounts to reduce immune reactions; others involve using lab-made antibodies or medicines designed to block allergic responses to certain foods. NIAID supports research on such immunotherapy treatments – oral, sublingual and epicutaneous (OIT, SLIT and EPIT); whereby OIT and EPIT involve gradually increasing doses of allergen over weeks or months until desensitization takes place.
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