A food allergy develops when your bodysimmune systemresponds abnormally to a particular food.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of food allergies.
The reaction can be mild or severe and may affect the skin or the respiratory system.
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When Do Food Allergies Start?
There are millions of people living withfood allergies.
Its estimated that up to 6% of children and 4% of adults have them.
Food allergies most commonly develop in infancy and childhood, but they can appear at any age.
Food allergies affect roughly 1 in 13 children and 1 in 10 adults in the United States.
What Causes Sudden Food Allergies?
Biological, environmental, and genetic factors causefood allergies.
Each person will experience a food allergic reaction differently.
These symptoms typically affect the airways, skin, or stomach.
At Home
Healthcare providers typically recommend keeping afood and symptom diaryat home to help determine a diagnosis.
At-home kitsthat screen for food allergies are also available, but doing homework before using one is important.
Oral food challenges are more likely to be recommended when the medical history or blood test results are unclear.
Xolair should not be used for the emergency treatment of any allergic reactions.
For example:
Severe Food Allergy Reaction: What Do You Do?
A mild food allergy symptom may involve discomfort in one or more body areas.
When this happens, its important to move quickly, as severe food allergy reactions can become life-threatening.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure available for food allergies.
The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the food that causes the issue.
Common types of food allergies include shellfish, peanuts, and eggs.
A healthcare provider can help diagnose a potential food allergy by using a blood test and evaluating your symptoms.
Recommended treatment options include OTC antihistamines or prescription medication to manage an attack and avoid the food altogether.
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