Food Allergies

" I have received excellent treatment for my allergies here. My quality of life since addressing my allergy needs has greatly improved. The office staff is wonderful, and all of the doctors I have seen have been knowledgeable, skilled, and compassionate. I highly recommend this whole team. "

~ A Yahoo local user We eat to fuel our bodies, improve our health, and sometimes just for pleasure. Ideally, consumption of healthy foods should be positive. Unfortunately, sometimes one or more foods can become the enemy of your body. It can happen with foods that are generally considered healthy, and with foods that you have consumed regularly all of your life.

Understanding food allergies

A food allergy occurs when the body begins producing an IgE (allergy antibody) to a specific protein, which is normally tolerated by the human body. Milk, soy, nuts, egg, seafood, and wheat are among the most common allergens. However, it is possible to develop an allergy to nearly any kind of food. Symptoms may begin from a few minutes to a couple of hours after ingesting the trigger food.

The symptoms of food-related allergies may include:

• Swelling, usually of the lips, eyes, tongue, or throat
• Hives (swollen, red, itchy welts)
• Shortness of breath, wheezing, or other respiratory symptoms
• Diarrhea or abdominal pain
• Worsening of eczema (atopic dermatitis) in infants and children

Severe reactions

Food allergies can cause a potentially fatal reaction known as food-induced anaphylaxis. Anyone potentially experiencing this reaction should call 911 immediately. The symptoms may be treated with antihistamines, injectable epinephrine, or other emergency medicines. The symptoms of food-induced anaphylaxis include:

• Severe difficulty breathing
• The feeling of tightness in one’s chest
• Tongue, throat, or both swelling
• Flushing or a sudden sensation of warmth

Diagnosis

The accurate diagnosis of a food-related allergy requires careful evaluation of a detailed history, performed by a qualified professional. At Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates/Food Allergy Center of Illinois, we use skin testing for the initial diagnosis. Blood testing or oral ingestion challenges may be used if the skin test is not definitive.

Unfortunately, the only treatment for food allergies is avoidance. Careful shopping and diligently reading food labels makes this possible. Depending on what foods you are allergic to, consulting a nutritionist can help you maintain a healthy, enjoyable, safe diet.

It is important to choose a board-certified allergist and immunologist, such as the doctors at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates/Food Allergy Center of Illinois, for the accurate diagnosis of food allergies. Call (847) 888-8802 and schedule an appointment at one of our offices (Crystal Lake, or Elgin) if you suspect that you or a family member has food allergies.

Food Allergy Awareness Week 2018

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