Food Allergies FAQ
Those who have food allergies and family members often have many questions to ask the doctor or dietician regarding avoiding food allergies, and the cause of food allergies as well as questions related to other family members getting food allergies. Your doctor is the best source of answers to all of your food allergy questions. Listed below are the top frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding food allergies:
1. What is a food allergy?
A food allergy is caused by an immunological response to something you have eaten that the body believes to be hazardous. In turn, the body will produce antibodies specific to combating that particular harmful food agent releasing histamines and other substances. The result is a physical manifestation such symptoms displayed on the skin, respiratory system, cardiovascular system and even the digestive system.
2. What are the typical symptoms and signs of a food allergy reaction?
Mild symptoms may include a rash, minor mouth irritation, itchy eyes and diarrhea. Other symptoms that can also occur are more bothersome and at turns, very serious such as tongue and throat swelling, breathing difficulty, nausea and vomiting, blood pressure dropping and even unconsciousness. Some symptoms are almost instantaneous while others develop over the course of several hours.
3. Does a cure exist for any type of food allergy?
The answer to this question is an unfortunate no. Avoiding that trigger food altogether is the best way to prevent a reaction although there are medications that can alleviate symptoms. Luckily for many children with food allergies, they eventually grow out of them as their body and immune response matures.
4. How do you treat a food allergy itself?
As mentioned above, avoiding the foods that trigger allergic reactions is the best treatment. You need to become well-versed in reading food labels and recognizing the many terms related to those food triggers. You will have to become adept at questioning the restaurants in which you dine to ensure no contamination occurs when it comes to your food allergies.
5. Can you treat the symptoms of the food allergy for relief?
The answer to this one is yes. For rashes and hives, there are over the counter as well as prescription creams that can alleviate the itching and swelling of the skin. Anti-histamine medications work well for minor swelling of the respiratory system as well as your mouth and tongue. For the severest food allergies where the minutest exposure is life threatening, epinephrine (a type of adrenaline) may be necessary. It is often prescribed by doctors and is something that you should always carry around, usually in a syringe or pen form.
6. Should I nix the foods I believe are causing the problem?
This is a trick question somewhat. Your best bet would be to keep a food diary logging everything you consume (including liquids and spices you use) and present your findings and best guess for possible food culprits to your doctor. This will give them a launching point to start testing you for food hypersensitivities.
7. Are food intolerance and food allergies the same thing?
The answer is no. Food intolerances occur because your body lacks a certain enzyme for digestion and the result is gas, indigestion, stomach pain and more. However, a food allergy triggers your immune response thus causing physical problems and potential life-threatening situations. With food intolerance, once the food leaves your system, you are fine.
8. Can I develop a food allergy later in life?
A food allergy can actually develop at any time in life, even after an individual has been eating a food without a reaction to it in the past. Any symptom that is experienced should not be ignored but medically investigated.
9. What symptoms of food allergies should I watch out for?
The following are common symptoms associated with food allergies - itchy skin, rash or hives, skin swelling, eczema. Swelling of the lips, or tongue. An itchiness of the throat, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and also diarrhea. The individual may also experience watery, itchy eyes, runny or stuffy nose, dry or staccato cough, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, which may include wheezing.
10. What is Anaphylaxis?
This is a word used to describe a severe allergic reaction that can be fatal if emergency care is not given immediately. The severe reaction usually includes a sudden drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and death.
11. Can I prevent a reaction to food?
The best way to prevent a food allergic reaction is to avoid the food that you are allergic to. Always read food labels carefully and each time you purchase a food item, because manufacturers change ingredients and something that may not have contained what you are allergic to may someday have that ingredient in it if the food recipe is changed.
12. What is the treatment of a severe food allergic reaction?
Epinephrine, which is also referred to as adrenaline, is the medicine most often given for severe allergic reactions. It is the medicine contained in EpiPenŽ, an auto injector. If the individual is having a mild allergic reaction antihistamines are than usually prescribed.
13. What kind of testing might my doctor do to determine if a family member or I have a food allergy?
A common test to determine food allergy is the skin prick test. A blood test called a RAST blood test is sometimes ordered. Once a positive result of one of these tests is obtained, a food challenge test is usually ordered to confirm the food allergy results.
14. When should food allergy tests be conducted (age)?
Anytime someone has a suspected symptom or symptoms of a food allergy they should be tested no matter how young or old.
15. Will children outgrow food allergies?
Children are known to outgrow food allergies. Most of them can outgrow allergies to milk, egg, soy or wheat by the time they turn five years of age. Typically allergies to peanut or tree nut (walnuts and pecans) are lifelong allergies.
