The most common type of allergic reaction to food is known as IgE-mediated food allergy. Itchy red rash (hives): In some cases, the skin may become red and itchy, but without a rash. Food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs shortly after eating a certain food. Even a small amount of the food that causes the allergy can cause signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swelling of the respiratory tract.
In some people, a food allergy can cause serious symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. It can be difficult to differentiate between the symptoms of food allergy and those of food intolerance. Symptoms caused by food allergy usually appear soon after consuming the food. While symptoms caused by food intolerance can be immediate, they can also take 12 to 24 hours to appear.
Food intolerance reactions are usually related to the amount of food consumed. They may not occur until a certain amount (threshold level) of food is eaten, but this amount varies from person to person. Symptoms of food allergy and intolerance may also be due to other conditions, so it's important to see your doctor for a medical diagnosis. Even people who are very careful can make mistakes, so if you have severe food allergies, you should be prepared to treat accidental exposure.
The first time you eat a food you're allergic to, certain cells produce a large amount of IgE for the part of the food that triggers the allergy, called an allergen. The most common food intolerances are lactose intolerance (dairy products) and intolerances to food additives, such as monosodium glutamate or flavor enhancers. Because dairy foods contain phosphorus, calcium, and other important minerals and vitamins, avoiding lactose is not recommended unless intolerance has been confirmed by testing. Parents and caregivers must protect children from foods that cause them and know what to do if a child eats one.
However, if a family has a child with a food allergy, their brothers and sisters have a slightly higher risk of suffering from it themselves, although that risk is still relatively low. Other diseases share symptoms with food allergies, such as ulcers and cancers of the digestive system. The doctor usually treats a child with very unhappy cramps who may not sleep well at night, and diagnoses a food allergy, in part, by modifying his diet, for example, replacing cow's milk with soy-based formula. Food allergy will not directly affect a child's behavior, although its symptoms can make him moody and give him problems, and allergy medications can make him sleepy.
Food intolerance also does not show up in allergy tests, and the Australian Society for Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) advises against allergy tests that are not evidence-based. External Link. While annoying, food intolerance is a less serious condition that doesn't affect the immune system. Children who have a family member with allergic conditions (such as asthma or eczema) are at greater risk of developing allergies.
If you think you have a food allergy, see a doctor to confirm the cause and get help controlling and treating it. One of the most complicated aspects of diagnosing food intolerance is that some people are not sensitive to the food itself, but to a substance or ingredient used in the preparation of the food. Food intolerance has been associated with asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
