Food Allergies

Food allergy sufferers have an increased risk of other allergic reactions, including hay fever or asthma. Family history plays a big role here.

Most children outgrow allergies to eggs, milk, wheat and soy; however, those allergic to peanuts, fish and shellfish often continue. A severe reaction could even prove fatal.

What is a food allergy?

Food allergies develop when your immune system misidentifies an otherwise harmless food as a potential threat, producing antibodies to fight it and prompting the release of chemicals such as histamine that cause allergic symptoms such as hives, vomiting, stomach pain, throat tightness, hoarseness or breathing issues. Severe reactions known as anaphylaxis require immediate medical treatment in hospital.

Food allergies have no clear cause, although they tend to run in families. Children are most prone to develop them at a young age but symptoms may appear at any point during life. People suffering from eczema and/or asthma have an increased risk for food allergies as well. Some may outgrow them but others will still live with them as adults.

Learning how to read food labels can help identify any foods you need to avoid, such as those triggering allergic reactions in some people. Doing this can prevent potentially severe reactions due to eating certain things altogether. At all times, it is vitally important to carry an epinephrine auto-injector (such as EpiPen) with you – even one dose can quickly reverse symptoms of anaphylaxis and rapidly restore health. An allergist will gather information about your family history and perform a physical exam to help diagnose food allergies as the source of your symptoms. They may perform allergy skin prick tests or blood tests measuring IgE antibody levels against specific allergens; alternatively they may suggest conducting an oral food challenge where they supervise you as you consume a food likely to trigger an allergic response.

How do I know if I have a food allergy?

If you or your child experience adverse reactions after eating certain foods, it’s worthwhile seeking medical advice. An allergist (a doctor who specializes in allergies) will examine symptoms, as well as family and personal histories for potential allergies, while providing a physical exam.

Food allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to food proteins, releasing antibodies that travel throughout your body and trigger symptoms such as rashes, stomach cramps and difficulty breathing; potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis reactions can also occur.

Food allergies are extremely prevalent, with milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat and soy being among the top allergens. Because these ingredients can be found in products ranging from bread to salad dressing it is vital that all ingredients be read thoroughly as some foods that cause allergic reactions may not be broken down by heat cooking or stomach acid and directly enter your bloodstream.

Your allergist may use both skin tests and blood tests to diagnose food allergies. A skin test involves placing drops of potential allergens onto your forearm or back and then pricking it to see if you react. Another form of test, known as sublingual or oral provocative challenge, involves taking small amounts of food either sublingually or directly into your mouth in order to test if there is a reaction there as well.

What are the symptoms of a food allergy?

After eating the food to which you are allergic, symptoms will typically appear immediately and can range from mild to severe. You might feel tingling or itching in your mouth; your lips, tongue and throat might swell; you might develop a rash; chest, belly and throat pain could occur as well as difficulty breathing; you could have an anaphylactic response that causes dizziness and lightheadedness with rapid blood pressure drop and potential shock if an anaphylaxis reaction ensues – an anaphylaxis reaction could quickly happen causing dizzyness or lightheadedness as well as rapidly decreasing blood pressure drop causing shock – possibly leading to shock shock.

Allergy symptoms occur when your immune system misidentifies certain proteins in food as harmful and attacks them, prompting your body to release substances called histamines, which cause symptoms. Histamines can affect the lining of your digestive tract causing discomfort such as stomach pain, diarrhea, itching and vomiting as well as skin reactions including hives or swelling in facial features like lips tongue or throat resulting in difficulty breathing or even life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis if an allergic response develops that affects breathing.

As food allergies can be deadly serious, it is crucial that you are aware of their signs and symptoms in order to avoid eating anything that triggers an allergy reaction. If this is severe enough for you, seek advice from your GP about getting an emergency kit containing adrenaline autoinjectors (epinephrine autoinjector). Also inform friends, family, restaurant staff as well as travel partners of any allergies you have when traveling abroad; Allergy UK produces translation cards which may assist your needs should language barriers arise.

How can I prevent a food allergy?

Food allergies can be prevented by avoiding foods to which you are sensitive, as well as consulting an allergy doctor and discussing with family. An allergist will take into account your symptoms, medical history and perform tests such as skin testing or blood testing in addition to food elimination diets or oral food challenge tests to diagnose your food allergy(ies). They will also teach how to read food labels properly as well as use an epinephrine auto-injector such as EpiPen in case of severe reactions.

Allergy to certain foods is an increasingly common condition and can impact people of all ages; children are at greater risk than adults of developing food allergies. Some individuals outgrow their allergies over time while others may develop lifelong intolerance for certain foods. People suffering from other allergic conditions, like hay fever or asthma, are at an increased risk for food allergies.

Food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis. Even trace amounts of certain foods can trigger symptoms across multiple body systems – including skin, respiratory tract and digestive systems. Therefore it’s crucial that those with food allergies avoid their allergen at all costs, and always have an action plan and emergency medication with them at the ready.