Food Allergies
As many as 25% of American households; alter their diet because of suspected food allergies in at least one family member. Actually, however, only about 4% of adults and 8% of children have clinically proven true allergic reactions to food.
People who have food allergies must identify and prevent them because, although usually mild and not severe, these reactions can cause devastating illness and, in rare instances, can be fatal.
Clinical Presentation
Food allergy is an abnormal response to food that is triggered by a specific reaction in the immune system and expressed by certain, often characteristic, symptoms. All the symptoms of food allergy occur within a few minutes to hours of eating.
Most common symptoms include:
- Itching in the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing and breathing
- In addition to GI symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Allergens are absorbed and enter the bloodstream. When they reach the skin, allergens can induce hives or eczema, and when they reach the airways, they can cause asthma.
As the allergens travel through the blood vessels, they can cause dizziness, weakness, and anaphylaxis, which is a sudden drop in blood pressure. Anaphylactic reactions can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Other kinds of reactions to foods that are not food allergies include food intolerances (such as lactose or milk intolerance), food poisoning, and toxic reactions. Food intolerance also is an abnormal response to food, and its symptoms can resemble those of food allergy. Food intolerance, however, is triggered by several different mechanisms that are distinct from the immunological reaction responsible for food allergy.
Do infants and children grow out of food allergies?
Most common food allergies
In adults, the most common foods that cause allergic reactions are: shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, and crab; nuts from trees, such as walnuts; fish; eggs; and peanuts.In children, the pattern is somewhat different from adults, and the most common foods that cause allergic reactions are eggs, milk, peanuts, and fruits, particularly tomatoes and strawberries.
Diagnosis of food allergies
The doctor makes his assessment with the help of a detailed history from the patient. He or she then confirms the diagnosis by the more objective skin tests, blood tests, or food challenges.
Treatment of food allergies
Avoiding the offending allergen in the diet is the primary treatment of food allergies. To do this, affected people need to read lengthy, detailed lists of ingredients on the label for each food they consider eating.
People who have had anaphylactic reactions to a food should wear medical alert bracelets or necklaces stating that they have a food allergy and that they are subject to severe reactions. These individuals also always should carry a syringe of epinephrine. Food allergies are serious, and should be treated as such.