Food allergies occur when your child’s immune system overreacts to certain foods, leading to symptoms like itchy mouth or throat, difficulty breathing, stomach cramps or even anaphylactic shock – potentially life-threatening reactions.
Make sure to inform all key individuals at your child’s school, day care and activities of his/her allergy and have at least two doses of epinephrine on hand in case he/she experiences an allergic reaction.
Symptoms
Allergies occur when your child’s immune system mistakenly recognizes certain foods as potentially hazardous, prompting his body to produce immunoglobulin E (or IgE). When exposed to said food, IgE antibodies sense its presence and signal your blood cells to release chemicals like histamine that trigger allergy symptoms in various parts of his or her body causing physical reactions such as breathing difficulties.
Food allergies can produce symptoms ranging from mild skin rashes and itchy mouth to stomach pain, difficulty breathing or even life-threatening anaphylaxis reactions. They usually appear shortly after exposure but sometimes within several hours after consumption of an allergen; unlike food intolerances which primarily impact digestion systems alone. Therefore it’s crucial that patients see their healthcare provider to receive accurate diagnosis and treatment plans.
Make sure to notify all adults working with your child, including teachers and daycare providers, of his/her food allergies – this includes parents of his or her friends – about it so they can make plans so your child can avoid eating items he/she is allergic to when dining out, arrange safe snacks when traveling and attending events such as birthday parties as well as carry emergency epinephrine (Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen) just in case a severe reaction should occur.
Diagnosis
Food allergies occur when your immune system, designed to defend against infection, mistakes certain proteins found in certain foods as threats and attacks them instead. Symptoms range from mild to life-threatening, with anaphylaxis being the most severe response and needing immediate medical intervention via adrenaline (Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen).
Food allergies typically manifest within minutes to hours after ingesting offending foods, and symptoms typically involve local reactions such as itching of the mouth or throat and/or rashes in their immediate area, although more serious reactions such as vomiting and hives have also been seen in some individuals with food allergies. It is advisable to visit a healthcare provider if you suspect having food allergies so they can determine which tests need to be run, determine if an allergy exists and provide guidance on managing it once diagnosed.
The doctor will ask about your family history of allergies and any previous symptoms you’ve experienced, conduct an exam and listen to your lungs, then look for other conditions such as lactose intolerance or celiac disease that could be contributing to them. They may also conduct blood tests measuring IgE antibodies specific foods – this method may not be as accurate but still provide useful insight.
Treatment
Food allergies don’t have a cure, but medicines can ease symptoms. People who are allergic should avoid foods which trigger them and read labels carefully and inquire at restaurants about ingredients used. Also carry an Epinephrine Auto-injector (commonly referred to as an Epi-pen), since severe reactions could be life-threatening; your physician will show you how.
An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system misidentifies certain food proteins as potentially harmful and makes antibodies (IgE) to combat it. When you eat such a food again, these IgE antibodies detect it and cause other cells to release histamine or other chemicals into your bloodstream causing allergic symptoms such as hives, swelling or difficulty breathing.
Food allergy symptoms generally appear within minutes after eating the food that causes an adverse reaction and range from mild to severe reactions, with anaphylaxis being the most serious form, leading to sudden drops in blood pressure, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and even death in some instances.
Oral immunotherapy may help some patients. Under this treatment, a doctor will administer small doses of your food allergen in a clinic or doctor’s office until your immune system adapts and can tolerate it without an allergic response. Over time, you should see improvements with regards to allergy reactions.
Prevention
Avoiding foods that cause food allergies is the ideal approach, yet this can be both difficult and hazardous. Therefore, it’s essential that people with food allergies prepare themselves in case accidental exposures occur – they should carry medication to reduce symptoms, while people with more serious allergies should carry an EpiPen (a device which injects adrenaline) just in case a life-threatening reaction arises.
Food allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to foods that it perceives to be potentially harmful, leading to mild or more serious reactions such as itching and swelling or anaphylaxis – the latter often being fatal. Common allergens include milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat soy and fish – with most children outgrowing cow’s milk allergies by early childhood while peanut allergies usually persist into adulthood.
Avoiding certain foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding has been found to lower the risk of food allergies in offspring, but current guidelines require babies be introduced to common allergy-causing foods by 6 months, and exclusive breastfeeding be discontinued after 4 months.
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