Food Allergies

What are food allergies?

Food allergies are a disorder resulting in an immune system reaction after eating a certain food, producing symptoms such as skin rashes or digestive problems. Symptoms of food allergies are caused by the release of the body’s antibodies to protect itself from the food (allergen), which it mistakenly perceives as a danger or threat. In some cases, this response can be a severe or even a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Food allergies affect approximately 2% of adults and 6% of children in the United States. Ninety percent of all food allergies are caused by eight foods: eggs, fish, wheat, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, and tree nuts (Source: FamilyDoctor.org).

Food allergies typically cause mild symptoms during the first exposure to the food because the body uses this exposure to prepare the immune system reaction for a second exposure. If the subsequent response is severe, anaphylaxis, a severe life-threatening immune reaction, may ensue, requiring immediate medical attention. Food allergies can occur even if only a minute amount of the food is consumed.

The signs and symptoms of food allergies can appear within a few minutes to several hours after eating the offending food. The disease course varies among individuals. Some people with food allergies have mild symptoms, such as a skin rash, while others may have severe diarrhea, swelling of the throat, or tightening in the lungs, causing difficulty breathing which may be life threatening.

In some people, food allergies can trigger a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms, including severe difficulty breathing, which may be combined with rapid heart rate (tachycardia); confusion or loss of consciousness even for a brief moment; or sudden swelling of the lips, face or throat.