Food Allergens
Living with food allergies
Food allergies are an emerging public health concern.Scientists are still trying to figure out why food allergies seem to be on the rise, especially in industrialized countries such as the United States.
More than 50 million Americans have an allergy of some kind. You probably know one of those people or are one yourself. Food allergies are estimated to affect 4% – 6% of children and 4% of adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Food allergy symptoms are most common in babies and children, but they can appear at any age. You can even develop an allergy to foods you have eaten for years with no problems. Do you suspect you’re suffering from a food allergy? Our food allergy specialist can evaluate your symptoms and determine the source.
Food Allergies
Food allergy symptoms
The symptoms of a food allergies can vary from mild to severe or even life-threatening. It is not always possible to predict how severe symptoms will be based upon the symptoms experienced during a previous reaction.
As an example, a person could have mild hives after eating peanuts on one occasion and then have an anaphylactic reaction after eating peanuts another time. However, reactions are not necessarily worse after each exposure.
Some symptoms may include:
- Hives (reddish, swollen, itchy areas on the skin)
- Eczema flare (a persistent dry, itchy rash)
- Itchy mouth or ear canal
- Nausea or vomiting
- Odd taste in the mouth
- Tight, hoarse throat
- Nasal congestion or a runny nose
- Sneezing
- Dry cough
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
Or more severe symtoms may include:
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, and/or throat that blocks the airway
- Trouble swallowing
- Shortness of breath or wheezing
- Pale or blue coloring of the skin
- Drop in blood pressure (feeling faint, confused, weak, passing out)
- Loss of consciousness
- Chest pain
- Weak pulse
- Anaphylaxis- a potentially life-threatening reaction that can lower blood pressure, impair breathing and send the body into shock immediately.