Food allergies are reactions of your immune system that occur after exposure to certain foods. An allergy may cause whole-body symptoms including wheezing, difficulty breathing and even anaphylactic shock – resulting in sudden decreases in blood pressure (anaphylactic shock).
Food allergies typically arise during childhood and tend to outgrow them on their own, yet may resurface later in life and even prove fatal.
Diagnosis
Food allergies are known to cause a range of symptoms affecting skin, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory systems. Most often they will appear within hours after eating the food in question and can range from mild, moderate or severe reactions. If you suspect your child or yourself have food allergies, consult with their healthcare provider immediately.
Your doctor may suggest an allergy test to determine your food allergies. Skin and blood tests are two common forms. With skin tests, a provider places a drop of liquid containing small amounts of food protein onto either arm or back and then pricks near this drop to check for reactions – swelling up or rashes may indicate you’ve an adverse reaction. Blood tests are less precise but may take several days longer; blood tests measure IgE antibodies against specific foods; antihistamine medications can affect these tests significantly and it’s recommended that these be stopped prior to blood test completion.
Food challenge tests involve eating a measured dose of an allergen under medical supervision in order to identify which food triggers an anaphylactic reaction, which can be life-threatening and impact multiple parts of the body.
Symptoms
Food allergies are reactions your body has against certain food items that it mistakenly perceives to be harmful, leading to your immune system producing immunoglobulin E (IgE). This causes hives, swelling in your mouth and throat area, difficulty with breathing or swallowing, stomach ache and diarrhea – symptoms which should never be ignored! Food allergies can be life-threatening so if this happens it’s crucial that you call 911 immediately or visit an emergency room immediately.
However, food intolerance typically causes digestive symptoms like bloating and gas. While not an immune response in itself, certain people with food intolerances such as peanuts, shellfish or wheat may have severe or life-threatening reactions when exposed to certain food items like these.
Your provider will conduct tests to help diagnose food allergies. Allergy skin tests involve pricking small amounts of suspected allergens onto your skin and looking for any reactions, while blood tests can measure antibodies in your body that respond to those allergens. Individuals who have food allergies may also react negatively to related foods; someone allergic to shrimp could react against crab and lobster as well. Or someone allergic to walnuts could react against pecans as well.
Treatment
No cure exists for food allergies; however, doctors can provide medications to treat symptoms. These medicines can prevent serious reactions like anaphylaxis that require immediate medical intervention; additionally they may advise finding alternative ways to avoid allergens that trigger symptoms.
Avoidance is often the best treatment, so read ingredient labels carefully and inquire at restaurants about what ingredients may be present before ordering any dish. Learn to recognize signs and symptoms of severe reactions like trouble breathing or swelling of lips, tongue or throat; carry emergency medicine such as adrenaline (Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen).
Most people with food allergies experience IgE-mediated allergies, triggered by their immune system’s production of immunoglobulin E antibodies which produce symptoms within seconds or minutes upon eating the food in question. But some individuals can have non-IgE mediated reactions which do not depend on immunoglobulin E and can take several hours before symptoms appear.
Researchers are developing treatments that may revolutionize how doctors approach food allergies. Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) and Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) involve giving increasing doses of an allergen over time in order to desensitize and desensitize an immune system and allow it to tolerate larger quantities. Furthermore, biologic drugs designed to block key steps in allergic reactions are being researched and developed.
Prevention
There’s no known cure for food allergies, but avoiding allergens that trigger symptoms may help lower their risks. Furthermore, education about these allergies, ingredient labels and how to use an auto-injector (epinephrine auto-injector) will further decrease risk.
Food allergies are on the rise globally and experts still do not fully understand their cause. While there have been various theories proposed as potential culprits – including hygiene hypothesis, genetics and imbalanced gut microbiomes – more research needs to be conducted in order to discover ways to combat food allergy outbreaks and find effective preventive solutions.
If your child is at risk of food allergies, begin gradually introducing common allergenic foods between six months (not earlier than four months) and 12 months old in small quantities – including peanuts, cow’s milk (dairy), tree nuts, fish shellfish soy and wheat products.
Consult with your physician on the best way to introduce new foods to your baby. A balanced diet is important, so do not limit their food choices too drastically. If you suspect your child has a food allergy, seek medical advice immediately – also be aware that accidental exposure of food allergens may occur! When traveling or attending events, plan ahead so you can bring safe snacks/meals along for them.
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