HEALTH
is it food allergy?
then what?
with a stunning 377 percent increase in the treatment of diagnosed anaphylactic reactions to food between 2007 and 2016. In fact, food allergy sends someone to the emergency department every three minutes. It is estimated that 32 million Americans have some type of food allergy. FO O D A LLE RGY I S IN CR E A SIN G IN T H E U N IT E D STATE S
What is food allergy?
What are the symptoms of food allergy?
Food allergy can occur when your body’s immune system overreacts to harmless food proteins. In the U.S., the most common food allergies are to milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish. Most food allergy is caused by antibodies (IgE) that bind to food proteins. When the food allergen is eaten, IgE can bind to food protein and cause release of histamine and other chemicals. This can lead to rapid symptom development.
IgE mediated food allergy symptoms can occur quickly and can be very dangerous. After the food allergen is eaten, symptoms can occur in minutes, up to two hours with most reactions occurring within the first hour of consumption. Symptoms may include: skin — itching, redness, hives, red bumps, swelling under the skin, rash
eyes — itching, tears, redness, swelling around the eyes upper respiratory — runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, hoarseness, dry cough, itching lower respiratory — chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath, cough
mouth — swelling of tongue, palate, or lips, itching
gastrointestinal — nausea, reflux, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain cardiovascular — rapid or slow heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness
How do I get rid of my food allergy?
There is no cure for food allergy. Some food allergies—such as milk, eggs, wheat, and soy—often resolve during childhood. Food allergy to peanut, tree nuts, and seafood are less likely to be outgrown. While not a cure, oral food desensitization is a new therapy to help build tolerance to food and reduce the risk of severe allergy symptoms on accidental food ingestion. In 2020, the FDA approved an oral immunotherapy (OIT) product for peanut allergy, but it is not appropriate for all peanut-allergic patients. What should I do next?
At times, some doctors or other healthcare providers may recommend tests that are not scientifically proven to diagnose food allergies. For many food intolerances, the exact mechanism is unclear and thus it makes sense that there are not diagnostic tests available. Your best option is to see a board-certified allergist to help determine if your adverse food reaction is in fact due to food allergy. They can then provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for you. w LKN EXPERT
What are acceptable tests for food allergy?
Food allergy, by definition, requires an adverse reaction after the food is ingested. It is very important to understand that food allergy tests do not diagnose food allergy but rather show allergic sensitivity (the presence of IgE against the food). While these tests help us to confirm food allergy when they match the clinical history, these tests are not perfect and false positives can occur.
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You can reach Douglas T. Johnston, D.O., FAAAAI, FACAAI, and his team at Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center via their website at www. carolinaasthma.com, or to schedule an appointment at one of their 14 area locations, call them at 704.372.7900.
WRITER DOUGLAS T. JOHNSTON, D.O.
