Food Allergy
Food allergies are very common. They affect one in every 13 children, and they're on the rise. But what exactly is a food allergy? And how can you know if you have one? In this article, we'll cover everything from causes and symptoms to treatment options and prevention strategies.
Food Allergen
Food allergy is a type of hypersensitivity reaction in which your immune system reacts to a particular food. Food allergens are proteins or other substances found in certain foods that can cause allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis (a serious emergency that requires immediate medical attention). Symptoms may include hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing.
Food Allergy VS Food Sensitivity
Food allergy and food sensitivity are two different conditions.
- Food allergy is a condition in which the immune system reacts to a particular food protein, causing an allergic reaction ranging from mild to life-threatening.
- Food sensitivity is a condition in which the immune system reacts to a food protein but doesn't necessarily cause an allergic response. For example, this could be caused by something like caffeine or dairy products (and all those other things you love).
Causes Of Food Allergy
The causes of food allergy are not well understood, but it's likely that something in the way you're exposed to food triggers an immune response. This can be from one or more of the following:
Milk
It may contain cow's milk proteins (casein), which make up 20% of most cow's milk. If you're allergic to these proteins, your body produces antibodies against them and has difficulty digesting dairy products. The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; fever; hives; itching skin rash; swelling around the mouth area (globus); wheezing caused by breathing difficulties due to swelling airways.
Wheat
Most people aren't allergic to wheat but some people have an immune reaction after eating small amounts over time or even just occasionally eating foods made from this grain such as bread made with wheat flour. A small percentage may develop anaphylaxis if they eat large amounts at once - this is called immediate (or immediate injectable) hypersensitivity reactions
Symptoms Of Food Allergy
If you have a food allergy, your symptoms are likely to include:
- Itching or swelling of the face, lips, and tongue. This is caused by an allergic reaction to the food that causes it. You may also experience swelling in other areas of your body if you have an allergic reaction to another food.
- Hives or welts on the skin (which may be red or purple). Your doctor will examine these areas closely when they are present in your body because they can be signs of a serious reaction to a certain food protein called histamine—a chemical released during an allergic response from another person who has eaten that specific food item without realizing what was happening!
Types Of Food Allergy
Food allergy is a type of hypersensitivity reaction. It occurs when your immune system reacts to a food protein, causing an allergic reaction.
- Food allergy can be to a specific food or to a food group. If you’re allergic to peanuts and almonds, for example, you'll likely have symptoms such as hives or rashes after eating them—but not necessarily both at once!
- Food allergies are different from food intolerances because they involve the immune system's response rather than digestive enzymes breaking down foods (or the body itself).
Diagnosis Of Food Allergy
- Symptoms of food allergy
- Testing for food allergy
- Doctor's advice
Testing For Food Allergy
If you suspect that your child has a food allergy, there are several tests that can be done to confirm the diagnosis. These include blood tests and skin tests, as well as symptom-based testing (such as an elimination diet).
Blood Tests
The most common type of blood test used to determine whether someone is sensitive to certain foods is called a RAST (radioallergosorbent) food test. This involves taking a sample of your child's blood and running it through a machine that detects antigens in their body by looking at how they react with antibodies sent out by immune cells called lymphocytes. Suppose these antigens are detected in the bloodstream after being exposed to certain foods like peanuts or milk. In that case, this suggests that those foods could potentially cause an allergic reaction in your child if he/she consumes them regularly over time.
Skin Tests
Skin testing involves pricking small amounts onto different parts of your child's skin such as the abdomen or forearm for about 30 minutes before washing off any remaining substance from these areas using warm water followed by soap sudsing twice daily until symptoms resolve completely.
Symptom-Based Testing: Symptoms may vary depending on which organ system(s) may have been affected by allergies so it's important not only to look for physical symptoms but also to check online resources such as Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) website where there's information about managing food allergies safely every step along the way from diagnosis through treatment options available today!
Treating A Food Allergy Reaction
If you have a severe allergic reaction, call 911 and get medical attention as soon as possible.
If you’re having an allergic reaction and your symptoms are severe enough to need immediate treatment, use an epinephrine auto-injector (epi-pen). This can be found at pharmacy stores or online.
If the symptoms of your allergy are mild but not serious enough to require medical attention right away, try taking an antihistamine (antihistamines) like Benadryl or Zyrtec before eating the food that caused it so that they can help reduce swelling around your mouth and throat area.
Emergency Treatments For Anaphylaxis
If you're in a situation where you need to provide emergency treatment, do the following:
- Use an epinephrine auto-injector. If your child has anaphylaxis, it's important that he or she can use the injector immediately on their own. An auto-injector is a device used to deliver medicine into the body (such as epinephrine) without having to touch it directly. Examples of this include EpiPen®, Auvi-Q®, and Twinject® pen devices sold by Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd., which are available for purchase at pharmacies and other retail stores throughout North America. Be sure that all of your family members know how to use these devices so they can administer them if needed during an allergy attack!
- Call 911 right away by dialing 9—911 or 1—911 from any phone (including cell phones). Tell them what happened so they can help get help quickly! It's also helpful if there are others nearby who could also call 911 without being put on hold while waiting for someone else's call first because this prevents overloading our network resources with unnecessary calls; therefore saving us money while helping people who really need assistance right now!"
Treatment For Long-Term Reactions
- Avoidance of allergenic foods.
- Medications to control symptoms.
- Avoidance of trigger foods, which are often the same as those causing your reaction but may be less severe than the original one (i.e., milk and egg).
- Avoidance of cross-reacting foods (foods that you react to when eaten by someone else who does not share your allergy).
Managing Your Allergies To Prevent Reactions
Avoid the food you are allergic to:
- The first thing to do is try to avoid the food that causes your allergies. This is important because if you eat the foods that cause your allergies and they react with their symptoms, it can cause serious damage to your body. Some examples of foods that could trigger an allergic reaction are nuts, shellfish (shrimp/crab), soybeans, and peanuts (the most common). You will also have an allergic reaction if you have a severe egg allergy or if someone else has eaten these foods without knowing about their sensitivity; this happens because some people may not know about their own allergies until after eating certain types of foods for many years without showing any signs or symptoms beforehand.
- Carry an Epinephrine Injector Kit: You should carry an epinephrine injector kit with all of your medications so that if something does happen then there will be no delay in getting help from others who know how dangerous these reactions can become quickly due to a simple lack of them being awareness enough prior.
Prevention Strategies For Food Allergies
- Avoiding the allergen.
- Avoid cross-contamination by using separate cutting boards, utensils, and serving plates for each food.
- Avoiding allergens in foods.
- Avoid ingredients that contain the allergen (e.g., wheat). If you cannot avoid these ingredients, make sure you keep them out of your kitchen at home and work environment as much as possible by storing them in sealed containers or removing them from sight when not being used.
- When cooking with certain ingredients (such as fish), use gloves while handling raw fish to prevent contact with skin cells that may cause an allergic reaction later on after eating cooked meals containing these items; this also applies if there are any other allergy concerns like tree nuts or peanuts since they’re also commonly found in shellfish products which make up part of many recipes out there today!
Be Aware If You Have An Allergic Reaction
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, get to the hospital immediately. The symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or severe and may include:
- Swelling (inflammation) of your face, lips, tongue, and throat
- Difficulty breathing
- A rash on the skin that looks like poison ivy
If you have any of these symptoms in addition to those described above, call 911 immediately!
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand more about what a food allergy is, how to identify it, and what to do if you or your child have an allergic reaction. If you’re still confused about food allergies and want answers, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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