Description A food allergy is a...
Description
A food allergy is a reaction by the body's immune system to something in a food. The body produces a reaction that can vary from mild (itching, nausea) to severe (throat swelling, shortness of breath). Food allergies usually occur within 30 minutes of eating but have been known to occur as late as 4-6 hours after eating. Any food can cause an allergic reaction but certain foods are more likely to cause the reaction than others (peanuts, egg, soy, shellfish, wheat, milk).
Symptoms
Symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the allergy. They include hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and eczema. More severe symptoms include swelling around the face and mouth, difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A complete history and physical will be performed. A food allergy can often be determined using only information from a thorough history. In other cases, patients may be referred to an allergist for skin testing. Newer testing is available that does not require multiple skin pricks. That testing is called radioallergosorbent (RAST) testing and looks for certain changes in the immune system (antibodies) that suggest an allergy to certain types of food.
Other Specific Tests: Radioallergosorbent (RAST) laboratory test, skin testing
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Allergy and Immunology, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Workup:
A complete history and physical will be performed. A food allergy can often be determined using only information from a thorough history. In other cases, patients may be referred to an allergist for skin testing. Newer testing is available that does not require multiple skin pricks. That testing is called radioallergosorbent (RAST) testing and looks for certain changes in the immune system (antibodies) that suggest an allergy to certain types of food.
Other Specific Tests: Radioallergosorbent (RAST) laboratory test, skin testing
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Allergy and Immunology, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Treatment
Treatment varies depending on the severity of disease. Mild cases may be treated with over-the-counter antihistamines. More severe cases involving throat swelling or shortness of breath may require epinephrine and steroids. People with symptoms that do not respond to over the counter medications should seek immediate medical attention.