Food Allergies
If you have a food allergy, your immune system overreacts to a particular protein
found in that food. Symptoms most commonly occur after ingestion, even with just
a tiny amount of the food. Many food allergies are first diagnosed in young children,
though they may also appear in older children and adults.
Eight foods are responsible for the majority of allergic reactions:
- Cow’s milk
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Tree nuts
- Wheat
Many people who think they are allergic to a food may actually be intolerant to it.
Some of the symptoms of food intolerance and food allergy are similar, but the
differences between the two are very important. If you are allergic to a food, this
allergen triggers a response in the immune system. Food allergy reactions can be
life-threatening, so people with this type of allergy must be very careful to avoid
their food triggers. Food skin testing can help in differentiating a true allergy versus
an intolerance.
Symptoms
Allergic reactions to food normally occur within minutes of eating the trigger food,
though they can sometimes appear a few hours later. Symptoms of a food allergy
include:
- Hives or red, itchy skin
- Stuffy or itchy nose, sneezing or itchy, teary eyes
- Vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea
- Angioedema or swelling
In some cases, food allergies can cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis. Signs
of this reaction include:
- Hoarseness, throat tightness or a lump in the throat
- Wheezing, chest tightness or trouble breathing
- Tingling in the hands, feet, lips or scalp
Diagnosis
Proper diagnosis of food allergies is extremely important. Skin testing is most
commonly used in diagnosing food allergies. A food challenge under the care of
your allergist / immunologist may also be needed to confirm an allergy.