Definition
A food allergy is an adverse or abnormal immune reaction to a food or a food additive.
Causes
A few specific foods seem to cause a majority of the food reactions. The most common triggers of a food reaction include:
- Cow’s milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Wheat
- Soy
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Tree nuts (eg, walnuts, pecans)
- Sesame seed
Risk Factors
Factors that increase your chance of food allergies include:
- Age: young children
- History of eczema
- History of other types of allergies, including hay fever
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Skin rash, especially hives
- Swelling in lips, mouth, tongue, throat
- Stomach cramps, pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Skin itching
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Nasal congestion
- Severe drop in blood pressure
- Gurgling stomach
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Food allergies are often diagnosed based on your own observations. It is a good idea to keep a diary of your symptoms. Note when the symptoms occur and what you have eaten.
Tests may include:
Elimination Diet
You may be asked to go on an elimination diet. This should be done under your doctor’s care. You will not eat a suspected food. If your symptoms decrease or go away, your doctor may be able to make a diagnosis. If you eat the food and your symptoms come back, the diagnosis is confirmed. This is most often only done in cases of skin irritation or atopic dermatitis.
Scratch Skin Test
The doctor will place a diluted extract of the food on the skin of your forearm or back. The skin is scratched with a small pick or tiny needles. If there is swelling or redness, an allergic reaction may be present. The doctor will make the diagnosis based on the skin test and your history of symptoms. In rare cases, skin tests can have a severe allergic reaction. This test should only be used under the supervision of a physician or other trained medical personnel. Severe eczema may make this test hard to interpret.
RAST or ELISA Test
The doctor may order blood tests (RAST or ELISA). These tests measure the level of food-specific IgE in the blood. IgE is a type of protein that the body produces when it is exposed to something which it is allergic. The presence of IgE in the blood may indicate an allergy but is not enough to make a diagnosis.
Treatment
Avoid foods and food ingredients that cause you to have an allergic reaction. If you think you’ve eaten something to which you are allergic, and you have difficulty breathing, call for emergency medical help.
Treatments include:
- Epinephrine—injected immediately in the event of a severe, life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis)
- Antihistamine medicine—to decrease swelling and itching
- Corticosteroid medicine—for more severe swelling and itching
If you are diagnosed with a food allergy, follow your doctor’s instructions. Consider seeing an allergist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating allergies).
Prevention
To reduce your chance of having a food allergy reaction:
- Avoid eating or drinking substances to which you know you are allergic.
- Read the ingredient label on every food product that you eat.
- If you go to a restaurant, discuss your allergy with the food server. Ask about all ingredients.
- Learn the other names for all your allergens. This will help you recognize them on an ingredients list.
- If you have a severe, anaphylactic-type food allergy, ask your doctor if you should carry a dose of epinephrine with you.
- Consider wearing a medical alert bracelet to inform others of your allergy.
- Be aware the food may become contaminated by shared utensils, containers, and during preparation.