Food allergies
A food allergy occurs when a certain food causes your body to have a physical reaction. This involves your immune system and results in an exaggerated response. You may have symptoms that affect your whole body, which can range from being mild to severe. In some cases, a food allergy can be life threatening.
Read on to learn more about food allergies, their symptoms, causes, common types, diagnosis and treatment options, and when you should see a doctor.
Food allergy vs food intolerance
Food allergies and food intolerances are both reactions to certain types of food. However, these responses are different.
A food intolerance does not cause an immune system response. Symptoms occur when your body finds it difficult to digest certain foods or their ingredients. The symptoms may affect your digestive system and can include tummy pain and bloating, but an intolerance is never serious or life-threatening.
Symptoms
If you have a food allergy, your symptoms may develop immediately or a few days after eating the triggering food. They can include itchy skin, hives (skin rashes), dizziness, coughing, sneezing or feeling sick. You might also experience diarrhoea or tummy pain.
You may also have symptoms that include wheezing, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue and eyes, noisy breathing, or confusion. If you experience any of these symptoms, you could be having a serious allergic reaction, and you should seek immediate medical attention.
Causes
Food allergies are caused by an exaggerated response of your immune system. The reason why this happens is unknown. However, you may have a slightly higher risk if someone in your family also has an allergy.
Common food allergies
It is possible to be allergic to any food. The common types are eggs, cow’s milk, nuts (especially peanuts and tree nuts), shellfish, soybeans and wheat.
Other types of food you may be allergic to include chickpeas, mustard, sesame seeds and celery.
Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of a food allergy, it is important to speak to your doctor and you may be referred to a specialist.
Your doctor will speak to you about your symptoms and medical history. They may also do an examination and additional tests.
To help determine what the triggering food might be, you may be asked to keep a food and symptoms diary. This will help you track the foods you eat, when you have a reaction, how long your symptoms last and your stress levels throughout the day.
At Digestive Health UK, we work closely with leading dieticians to help reach your diagnosis and identify your allergy.
Food allergy tests
Changing your diet to avoid the food that we think is causing your allergy can help us diagnose it, depending on if your symptoms improve or not.
Your doctor can also refer you for tests that can help determine if you have an allergy and what it is. These include blood tests or a skin prick test. A skin prick test involves putting a drop of liquid with the potential trigger onto your skin to see if it causes a reaction.
Food allergy tests should only be done with a medical professional. Speak to us today to learn more about food allergy tests at Digestive Health UK.
Treatment
Your treatment plan will usually be developed with you, your doctor and a dietician.
Treating a food allergy involves preventing future reactions. You can do this by avoiding the triggering food, notifying the people preparing your food as well as informing your friends and family about your allergy, and checking food labels before you eat.
You might be prescribed medication to help with your symptoms, such as antihistamines to manage a mild allergic reaction.
You may also be prescribed emergency medicine in case you have a serious allergic reaction. This is an injection also known as an EpiPen. Your doctor will explain how and when to use this, and you should always carry your EpiPen with you if you are prescribed one.
When should you see a doctor?
If you have symptoms of a food allergy, you should see a healthcare professional as soon as possible, as you may be at risk of having a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction.
If you have symptoms like wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue and eyes, seek immediate medical attention.
Book an appointment
At Digestive Health UK, we work with City Dieticians to provide you with the best possible care. If you think you may have a food allergy or you have gastrointestinal symptoms, our team can help you find a diagnosis, identify the cause and develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
Book an appointment with us today.