Food Allergy - What Is It? - Health Tips

There are many different manifestations of food allergies. Immunologically this occurs when your body reacts to the proteins in the foods. When the reactions occur because of inability to digest the sugar content of the foods, this is considered non- allergic or intolerance. A common example would be lactose intolerance, usually gastrointestinal problems that occur when we are not able to digest lactose, the sugar moiety of milk.

Food allergies can present at any age, from infancy to adulthood. Patients present differently, some with itchy throat/mouth, hives, others with abdominal discomfort, or even vomiting.

Extreme case of allergic reaction to foods is called anaphylaxis, where the reaction(s) can be life-threatening. Signs can include generalized hives, swellings, diarrhea, shortness of breath, wheezing and cardiovascular collapse.

We can help by identifying the offending food allergens. Testing and sometimes food challenges may be necessary. The main treatment of food allergy is of course, avoidance of the foods that trigger your allergies. For the severe case, carrying an epinephrine injectable is a must. And for children, having a specific food allergy plan for daycare, and school must be included.

Our allergy specialists can help identify to which foods you are allergic. To aid in the doctor’s diagnosis, keep a journal of everything you eat, what symptoms you experience, and how long after you eat that the symptoms appear. Maintain this journal for one to two weeks and bring it with you when you go to the doctor.

Often the food causing the allergic reaction is obvious. For instance, if classic allergy symptoms appear a few minutes after eating a food on several occasions, further tests may not be needed to identify that particular food as the offender. If a food allergy is suspected, but the offending food is not obvious then allergy skin testing or other types of tests performed by a board-certified allergy and asthma specialist will help in its identification.
Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Know what you are eating. If you are eating out, ask the waiter what ingredients are being used and be very clear with him or her what you can or cannot eat. If the waiter is unsure, ask him/her to check with the chef. In the market, carefully read the labels before you buy.
• Birthday parties can be a challenge to a child with a food allergy. Be sure that the host parents know that your child has allergies. Educate your child, so he or she knows which foods are okay and not okay to eat. Alert teachers or childcare workers of the food allergy and the potential symptoms of an allergic reaction.
• If anaphylaxis is a possibility, you should talk to your doctor about knowing how to use and carrying injectable epinephrine in case of an emergency.

Researchers estimate that approximately 15 million Americans have food allergies and it is believed that they are on the rise although there is no clear cause why. Allergic reactions to food can range from a mild itchy mouth to a severe, life-threatening reaction. Food allergy symptoms usually develop within a few minutes to two hours after eating the offending food.

However, in some people, a food allergy can trigger a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This can cause life-threatening signs and symptoms.

Emergency treatment is critical for anaphylaxis. Untreated, anaphylaxis can be fatal, and it has been shown that early and appropriate measures, such as the use of prescription injectable epinephrine (i.e. EpiPen® or AUVI-Q®).

Suspected food allergies should always be evaluated, diagnosed, and treated by a qualified medical professional, such as a board-certified allergist. Do not diagnose a food allergy on your own.

Self-diagnosis can lead to unnecessary dietary restrictions and inadequate nutrition, especially in children. Additionally, some people think they are allergic to a food when they actually have another type of food disorder, such as food intolerance, and treatment may differ.

With the proper workup and plan, we can reduce the chances of allergic reactions with foods.

There is no approved treatment for food allergies.  The recommended management includes identifying the food allergens that are provoking symptoms, confirming the allergy with testing, and implementing dietary changes to avoid the food.  Some patients may require carrying an epinephrine auto-injector to treat possible systemic allergic reactions.  Identifying and avoiding these food allergies can help in other allergic diseases like eczema and Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE).

There are emerging tools for treating food allergies:

• Research shows that there is a possibility of reducing the chances of developing certain food allergies in infants.  We can discuss how the chances of developing peanut allergy can be reduced in high risk patients.
• There is also much research looking at Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) as a tool to desensitize to the food in question.  We have implemented some of these protocols in our practice.
• In the future, we may see other alternatives like a food patch that can be placed on the skin to desensitize (Epicutaneous Immunotherapy).