What is a food allergy?
A food allergy happens when your immune system triggers an abnormal response to a food you consume, such as fish, eggs, peanuts, or wheat.
With a food allergy, your immune system overreacts to a particular protein in a food, and symptoms can arise even if you only come into contact with a tiny amount of the food.
Food allergies can develop even if you’ve been safely eating a food for many years. Food allergy testing helps you figure out what’s causing your reactions.
It’s important to note the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance. With a food allergy, the symptoms can be life-threatening, so you must avoid a severe food allergy at all costs. With an intolerance, you might be able to occasionally eat small amounts of the food without a reaction.
Cross-reactivity might also be a concern, for example, if you’re allergic to ragweed, you might also develop allergic reactions to melons or bananas. Cross-reactivity takes place when your immune system thinks one protein is closely related to another.
Allergic reactions to food can vary from mild to severe and even a potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
What are the symptoms of a food allergy?
Symptoms of a food allergy include:
- Itching or swelling in your mouth
- Hives or eczema
- Difficulty breathing
- A drop in blood pressure
- Eosinophilic esophagitis — allergic condition and inflammation of the esophagus
You might also experience vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.
What is the treatment for food allergies?
To diagnose a food allergy, your provider might use a detailed history, skin and blood testing, and an elimination diet.
At Allergy and Asthma Consultants, your provider can suggest various testing and treatment methods for food allergies. Your provider recommends avoiding the food to which you’re allergic and might also suggest specific medications, such as antihistamines for a milder reaction, and different ways you can improve your health, digestive functioning, and your immune system.
With food allergies, you should also be prepared for an accidental exposure. Wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that identifies your food allergy and carry an auto-injector device that contains epinephrine.
In some cases, you might be able to undergo oral immunotherapy where over time, you’re given progressively larger doses of the food under medical supervision. The goal is to desensitize you and treat your allergy.
If you or your family are dealing with allergies, you’ll need expert care. Call Allergy and Asthma Consultants, or schedule through the online booking tool today.
