Food allergies can produce various symptoms that range from mild to severe reactions that could even be life-threatening, including anaphylaxis (an immediate bodily reaction that affects breathing and blood pressure).
Identification of food allergies and strict avoidance are critical steps towards managing symptoms effectively. Carrying an EpiPen or Adrenaclick would also be prudent to ensure timely medical assistance in case an episode should arise.
What is a Food Allergy?
Food allergies are an immune response that occurs in response to eating certain types of food. Your body recognizes this food as potentially hazardous and responds by producing antibodies called IgE (immunoglobulin E), triggering symptoms which affect skin, respiratory tract, cardiovascular system and digestive system.
Food allergies can vary in intensity from mild to severe and from person to person, with symptoms that range from minor irritation to life-threatening reactions like swelling in the airways or sudden drops in blood pressure (anaphylactic shock). Although more prevalent among children than adults, anyone can develop food allergies at any age; eggs, milk, peanuts and fish tend to cause reactions among kids while it is possible for adults as well to be affected. Most children outgrow their allergies by the time they reach teenage years but it remains possible for adults to be affected as well.
Doctors typically diagnose food allergies by conducting a physical exam and reviewing symptoms, family history of allergies and any health problems, taking blood samples or conducting skin tests as necessary, conducting an elimination diet/oral food challenge to pinpoint which allergen(s) are triggering reactions; before eating out at restaurants make sure the staff know of your food allergy so dishes are prepared in an allergen-free environment; some doctors also provide emergency epinephrine autoinjectors such as Adrenaclick/EpiPen for those at risk of an extreme reaction.
Symptoms of a Food Allergy
Immune system’s primary job is to protect us against germs and dangers that could make us sick, but occasionally overreacts and attacks foods you eat that it recognizes as threats, leading to symptoms like hives, trouble breathing, throat itching or stomach cramps – these reactions are called food allergies and may vary from mild to severe symptoms; common culprits include eggs, milk peanuts fish soy wheat shellfish (and its products such as soy and wheat protein), while certain other substances (sulfites or benzoates) could trigger reactions. People suffering from other allergic diseases such as eczema or hay fever may also be more at risk than usual for food allergy reactions.
Most children outgrow food allergies as they get older, although they can remain lifelong conditions. Food allergies have been on the rise in America; one in 13 children now has one; it only takes a small amount of allergen to trigger severe reactions (anaphylaxis), potentially even leading to death.
If you suspect yourself or your child have food allergies, skin prick testing or blood testing for IgE antibodies to food allergens can confirm them. Once diagnosed, doctors can help educate individuals how to read labels and avoid offending foods; additionally they may provide emergency medicines like adrenaline (Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q and EpiPen) should an allergic reaction occur.
Diagnosis of a Food Allergy
To diagnose food allergies, your physician will start by discussing symptoms with you or your child and performing a physical exam. They may also inquire into family histories of allergies or health conditions like eczema or asthma; and the foods which trigger reactions will likely also be investigated to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Skin tests are the primary method for diagnosing food allergies. A provider will apply a drop of the suspected allergen on either your forearm or back and prick you with a needle to see if a reaction occurs, typically manifesting itself in red bumps that feel itchy.
Blood tests can also be an effective way to detect food allergies. Providers will take a sample from your blood and send it off to the lab in search of antibodies against specific food proteins – known as IgE antibodies.
Blood tests can help your doctor ascertain whether you or your child are allergic to certain foods, but cannot predict the severity of a reaction. That is because IgE antibodies already present in your body don’t necessarily indicate when they will form after eating an allergenic food.
Treatment of a Food Allergy
Allergy treatment focuses on avoiding the food that causes reactions. Nonprescription antihistamines may provide temporary relief; your physician can suggest using an adrenaline autoinjector (Adrenaclick or EpiPen) in case of severe reactions that could be life-threatening; ask about carrying this device at all times with you.
Food allergies occur when an individual’s immune system misinterprets proteins present in certain foods as harmful invaders and sends antibodies against it, producing chemicals such as histamine which then cause symptoms to surface within two hours after ingestion, often manifesting themselves through bloating or stomachache that arise later after meals have been eaten. A food allergy differs from food intolerance which usually manifests itself through symptoms like bloating and abdominal cramping that appear hours or even days post-intake.
By age three, most children outgrow allergies to cow’s milk, eggs, soy, wheat and tree nuts; while peanuts, shellfish and fish allergies tend to last a lifetime. Some children who experience eosinophilic esophagitis – an allergy condition which causes inflammation of the esophagus – may benefit from oral immunotherapy, where small doses of food allergens are gradually introduced through mouth in a controlled fashion to build tolerance in order to decrease severity of reactions in future encounters with foods which cause severe reactions – allowing tolerance over time thereby lessening severity of allergic reactions over time.
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