A food allergy is an exaggerated immune response triggered by eggs, peanuts, milk, or some other specific foods. Even a small amount of the allergy causing food can produce signs and symptoms. Food allergy can cause severe symptoms or even a life threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
Food allergy can be confused with food intolerance, less serious condition that does not involve the immune system. Food causing allergy in adult includes fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts, such as walnuts while in children, eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat are allergy causing foods.
Symptoms
Generally , symptoms occur within 2 hours after eating. Symptoms may also begin hours after eating the food which is rare. If symptoms occur shortly after eating a certain food, it may be a food allergy. Key symptoms of a food allergy include hives, a hoarse voice, and wheezing.
Other symptoms include:
Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
Difficulty swallowing
Itching of the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, or any other area
Light-headedness or fainting
Nasal Congestion
Nausea
Runny nose
Swelling (angioedema ), especially of the eyelids, face, lips, and tongue
Shortness of breath
Stomach cramps
Vomiting
Symptoms of mouth (oral) allergy syndrome:
Itchy lips, tongue, and throat
Swollen lips (sometimes)
Treatment
The main treatment for food allergies is to avoid the food that causes food allergy once you have identified the food . If your child has a problem with cow’s milk formula, your healthcare provider may suggest trying a soy-based formula or something called an elemental formula, if it is available.
Minor allergic reaction
Over-the-counter or prescribed antihistamines may help reduce symptoms. These drugs can be taken after exposure to an allergy-causing food to help relieve itching or hives.
Severe allergic reaction
An emergency injection of epinephrine and a trip to the emergency room may be required in case of severe allergic reaction.If you develop any type of serious or whole-body reaction (even hives) after eating the food:
Inject the epinephrine.
Then go to the nearest hospital or emergency immediately, preferably by ambulance.
Prevention
Breastfeeding may 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.
Always read food labels to make sure they don't contain an ingredient you're allergic to. Read food labels carefully to avoid the most common sources of food allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.