Food Allergies

Food allergies develop when an individual’s immune system overreacts to specific proteins in certain foods, including milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat and fish. The most frequently encountered allergens include these items.

Most children outgrow allergic reactions to milk, eggs, soy and wheat by age five; however, peanuts, tree nuts and seafood allergies often remain lifelong.

Avoiding the Food

Food allergies require people to avoid certain ingredients. Unfortunately, this can be challenging due to the wide variety of food that contains them and cross-contamination could occur; for instance if someone with severe peanut allergy ate a jelly sandwich topped with peanut butter on bread that then came in contact with other food – including ice cream on top or salad dressing drizzled onto their salad – several things can be done to manage this risk.

Step one is reading food labels carefully. According to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), foods containing eight major allergens – milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, soybeans, tree nuts and peanuts – must be clearly labeled.

Some families opt to prepare all meals at home to reduce accidental exposure to allergens and avoid cross-contact. When dining out, it is also crucial that the manager and chef of restaurants be informed in advance about food allergy needs so accommodations can be made. It is also essential that ingredient statements on non-food products such as lotions, soaps and hair care items be read before buying anything there.

Preventing Reactions

Avoiding food allergens is the best way to safeguard against them, while learning the symptoms and using emergency drugs such as adrenaline.

Notifying others about your food allergies is crucial for staying safe, including dining out or eating at friends’ houses where cross-contamination could occur if food preparation surfaces share ingredients with each other. Also, carrying an emergency epinephrine auto-injector (such as EpiPen or Adrenaclick) at all times could save your life should an allergic reaction become severe.

Food allergies often fade as people age, especially young children. Peanut, tree nut and shellfish allergies tend to dissipate by middle school age while peanut allergy, tree nut allergy and fish/shellfish allergies tend to persist longer-term. Some who suffer from food allergies (particularly those with asthma) also develop atopic dermatitis – an itchy rash caused by similar triggers as food allergies – while reactions range from mild itching and hives all the way through to life-threatening anaphylaxis that could endanger life instantly!

Treating Reactions

Food allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to normally harmless proteins found in certain food items, including milk, egg, peanuts, wheat, soy and shellfish proteins. Family history or existing allergies such as eczema or hay fever could play a part in whether or not someone develops food allergies.

Food allergies can be serious and sometimes life-threatening conditions. They can impact multiple systems within your body – skin, digestive system, respiratory tract and cardiovascular. An anaphylactic reaction, known as anaphylaxis can result in sudden drops in blood pressure leading to shock and even loss of consciousness.

Most individuals with food allergies eventually outgrow or adjust to eggs, milk, wheat and soy allergies; however, allergy to peanuts, tree nuts, fish or shellfish tends to remain long-term; you or your child may need emergency epinephrine auto-injectors (Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen) just in case an emergency arises.

Medicines may help relieve some symptoms caused by food allergies after consumption; however, they cannot prevent reactions. Speak to your healthcare provider about which medicines may help treat food allergies in you or your child. Researchers are exploring methods of desensitizing people to allergens so they stop having allergic reactions; this process is known as oral immunotherapy or OIT; however it has yet to become an approved solution for all food allergy conditions.

Managing Reactions

Your doctor may prescribe medicines to manage symptoms and prevent serious reactions. If you experience breathing issues or a drop in blood pressure (anaphylaxis), immediately call 911 or go to an emergency room for medical attention.

Always have emergency medications such as an epinephrine auto-injector with you at all times, including oral immunotherapy treatments recommended by your physician to overcome allergies.

Learn the foods that cause your allergy. Make sure all family members understand and adhere to your food allergy protocols. Create allergen-free zones within your home, such as allocating certain rooms for eating and cooking. Prepare an anaphylaxis emergency care plan; consider making two kits – one which stays behind at home, and another which travels with you.

Be cautious when cooking food containing an allergen, such as boiling milk or frying fish. You may need to leave the kitchen while these items are prepared; consider eating at restaurants that offer allergy-safe dining experiences instead.

Most children outgrow food allergies by early childhood, especially allergies to peanuts, nuts and seafood. It is still wise to monitor your child closely in case any recurrences arise as these allergies can be potentially life-threatening.