A food allergy is an exaggerated immune response triggered by eggs, peanuts, milk, or some other specific food.
Alternative NamesAllergy to food
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsNormally, your body's immune system defends against potentially harmful substances, such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins. In some people, an immune response is triggered by a substance that is generally harmless, such as a specific food.
The cause of food Allergies is related to your body making a type of allergy-producing substance called immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to a particular food.
Although many people have a food intolerance, food allergies are less common. In a true food allergy, the immune system produces antibodies and histamine in response to the specific food.
Any food can cause an allergic reaction, but a few foods are the main culprits. In children, the most common food allergies are to:
A food allergy frequently starts in childhood, but it can begin at any age. Fortunately, many children will outgrow their allergy to milk, egg, wheat, and soy by the time they are 5 years old if they avoid the offending foods when they are young. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish tend to be lifelong.
In older children and adults, the most common food allergies are:
Food additives -- such as dyes, thickeners, and preservatives - may rarely cause an allergic or intolerance reaction.
An oral allergy syndrome may occur after eating certain fresh fruits and vegetables. The allergens in these foods are similar to certain pollens. Examples are melon/ragweed pollen and apple/tree pollen.
Many Americans believe they have food allergies, while in reality fewer than 1% have true allergies. Most people's symptoms are caused by intolerances to foods such as:
Symptoms usually begin immediately, within 2 hours after eating. Rarely, the symptoms may begin hours after eating the offending food.
If you develop symptoms shortly after eating a specific food, you may have a food allergy. Key symptoms include hives, hoarse voice, and wheezing.
Other symptoms that may occur include:
Symptoms of oral allergy syndrome:
In severe reactions, you may have low blood pressure and blocked airways.
A blood or skin test can be done to identify elevated antibody levels (particularly IgE) and confirm that you have an allergy.
With elimination diets, you avoid the suspected food until your symptoms disappear. Then the foods are reintroduced to see if you develop an allergic reaction.
In provocation (challenge) testing, you are exposed to a suspected allergen under controlled circumstances. This may be done in the diet or by breathing in the suspected allergen. This type of test may provoke severe allergic reactions. Challenge testing should only be done by a doctor.
Never try to deliberately cause a reaction or reintroduce a food on your own. These tests should only be performed under the guidance of a health care provider -- especially if your first reaction was severe.
See: Allergy testing
TreatmentThe only proven treatment for a food allergy is to avoid the food. If you suspect you or your child has a food allergy, consult an allergy specialist.
If you have symptoms on only one area of the body (for example, a hive on the chin after eating the specific food), you may not need any treatment. The symptoms will likely go away in a brief time. Antihistamines may relieve the discomfort. Soothing skin creams may provide some relief.
Consult your doctor if you think you have had an allergic reaction to food, even if it is only a local reaction.
Anyone diagnosed with a food allergy should carry (and know how to use) injectable epinephrine at all times. If you develop any type of serious or whole-body reaction (even hives) after eating the offending food, inject the epinephrine. Then go to the nearest hospital or emergency facility, preferably by ambulance. Seek immediate medical attention after injecting epinephrine for a food reaction.
Support GroupsFood Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network -- www.foodallergy.org
Expectations (prognosis)Avoiding the offending foods may be easy if the food is uncommon or easily identified. However, you may need to severely restrict your diet, carefully read all package ingredients, and ask detailed questions when eating away from home.
ComplicationsAnaphylaxis is a severe, whole-body allergic reaction that is life threatening. Although people with oral allergy syndrome rarely have an anaphylactic reaction, they should ask their doctor whether they need to carry injectable epinephrine.
Food allergies can trigger or worsen asthma, eczema, or other disorders.
Calling your health care providerBreastfeedingmay help prevent allergies. Otherwise, there is no known way to prevent food allergies except to delay introducing allergy-causing foods to infants until their gastrointestinal tract has had a chance to mature. The timing for this varies from food to food and from baby to baby.
Once an allergy has developed, carefully avoiding the offending food usually prevents further problems.
ReferencesLack G. Clinical practice. Food allergy. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:1252-1260.
A food allergy is an exaggerated immune response triggered by eggs, peanuts, milk, or some other specific food.
Alternative NamesAllergy to food
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsNormally, your body's immune system defends against potentially harmful substances, such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins. In some people, an immune response is triggered by a substance that is generally harmless, such as a specific food.
The cause of food allergies is related to your body making a type of allergy-producing substance called immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to a particular food.
Although many people have a food intolerance, food allergies are less common. In a true food allergy, the immune system produces antibodies and histamine in response to the specific food.
Any food can cause an allergic reaction, but a few foods are the main culprits. In children, the most common food allergies are to:
A food allergy frequently starts in childhood, but it can begin at any age. Fortunately, many children will outgrow their allergy to milk, egg, wheat, and soy by the time they are 5 years old if they avoid the offending foods when they are young. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish tend to be lifelong.
In older children and adults, the most common food allergies are:
Food additives -- such as dyes, thickeners, and preservatives – may rarely cause an allergic or intolerance reaction.
An allergy syndrome that affects the mouth and tongue may occur after eating certain fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods contain substances similar to certain pollens. For example, melon contains substances similar to ragweed pollen, and apples have allergens similar to tree pollen.
Many Americans believe they have food allergies, while in reality fewer than 1% have true allergies. Most symptoms are caused by intolerances to foods such as:
Symptoms usually begin immediately, within 2 hours after eating. Rarely, the symptoms may begin hours after eating the offending food.
If you develop symptoms shortly after eating a specific food, you may have a food allergy. Key symptoms include hives, hoarse voice, and wheezing.
Other symptoms that may occur include:
Symptoms of mouth (oral) allergy syndrome:
In severe reactions, you may have low blood pressure and blocked airways.
Blood or skin tests are sometimes used to confirm that you have an allergy. However, there is no well-accepted criteria for diagnosing food allergies.
With elimination diets, you avoid the suspected food until your symptoms disappear. Then the foods are reintroduced to see if you develop an allergic reaction.
In provocation (challenge) testing, you eat a small amount of the suspected food allergen under medical supervision. This type of test may provoke severe allergic reactions. Challenge testing should only be done by a doctor.
Never try to deliberately cause a reaction or reintroduce a food on your own. These tests should only be performed under the guidance of a health care provider -- especially if your first reaction was severe.
See: Allergy testing
TreatmentThe only proven treatment for a food allergy is to avoid the food. Other treatments, including allergy shots and probiotics, have not been clearly proven to help with food allergies.
If your child has a problem with cow's milk formula, your health care provider may suggest trying a soy-based formula or something called an elemental formula, if available.
If you suspect you or your child has a food allergy, consult an allergy specialist.
If you have symptoms on only one area of the body (for example, a hive on the chin after eating the specific food), you may not need any treatment. The symptoms will likely go away in a brief time. Antihistamines may relieve the discomfort. Soothing skin creams may provide some relief.
Consult your doctor if you think you have had an allergic reaction to food, even if it is only a local reaction.
Anyone diagnosed with a food allergy should carry (and know how to use) injectable epinephrine at all times. If you develop any type of serious or whole-body reaction (even hives) after eating the offending food, inject the epinephrine. Then go to the nearest hospital or emergency facility, preferably by ambulance. Seek immediate medical attention after injecting epinephrine for a food reaction.
Support GroupsFood Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network -- www.foodallergy.org
Expectations (prognosis)Avoiding the offending foods may be easy if the food is uncommon or easily identified. However, you may need to severely restrict your diet, carefully read all package ingredients, and ask detailed questions when eating away from home.
ComplicationsAnaphylaxis is a severe, whole-body allergic reaction that is life threatening. Although people with oral allergy syndrome rarely have an anaphylactic reaction, they should ask their doctor whether they need to carry injectable epinephrine.
Food allergies can trigger or worsen asthma, eczema, or other disorders.
Calling your health care providerBreastfeedingmay help prevent allergies. Otherwise, there is no known way to prevent food allergies except to delay introducing allergy-causing foods to infants until their gastrointestinal tract has had a chance to mature. The timing for this varies from food to food and from baby to baby.
Once an allergy has developed, carefully avoiding the offending food usually prevents further problems.
ReferencesLack G. Clinical practice. Food allergy. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:1252-1260.
Chafen JJ, Newberry SJ, Riedl MA, et al. Diagnosing and managing common food allergies: a systematic review. JAMA. 2010 May 12;303(18):1848-56.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 06/29/2010
Paula J. Busse, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Yes. If a chef has a food allergy they simply avoid the food they have an allergy to.
all of them they are to every thing
yes, it can. I have a food allergy related to dysbacteriosis.
The most common food allergy is peanut allergy
Frederic Speer has written: 'Allergy and immunology in children' -- subject(s): Allergy in children 'Food allergy' -- subject(s): Food Hypersensitivity, Food allergy 'The management of childhood asthma' -- subject(s): Asthma, Children, Diseases
no, but there can be an allergy to A greasy food.
Avoid that food.
Yes, a food allergy or food intolerance can produce hand swelling in some (but not all) sensitive people.
ICD-9 code 995.3 is for allergy unspecified. You can use this for food allergy. Check http://goo.gl/OHC1hd for more ICD-9 info.
Food allergy testing can be done in the doctor offices. If you cannot get to one try the free clinic to see if they could do it for you.
Arthur Fernandez Coca has written: 'Familial nonreaginic food-allergy' -- subject(s): Food allergy, Food Hypersensitivity, Allergia
food allergy