Food Allergies

Food Allergies

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
Food Allergy Focus, Issue 5 Spring 2018
View Food Allergy Focus, Issue 5 Spring 2018

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.

What are the conditions which look like allergies? Dr. Noga Askenazi

Do you feel nauseous or bloated? Is stomach pain always a food allergy? What are the conditions which looks like allergies but are not? Watch the video to learn more as Dr. Askenazi explains.
Video Transcript

People come in with complaints of abdominal symptoms. They can have nausea or bloat, and they want to know if they have a food allergy.We do try to test for true food allergy and separate what may be an intolerance or digestive problem or intestinal disease.

There are different types of gut responses that are not all a direct food allergic response. People can sometimes feel like they’re having pressure in their heads.

If they don’t have a lot of other symptoms, those may not be allergies that are causing pressure or headaches.

Asthma is the majority of the time allergically related. But having symptoms is not always directly linked to being exposed to the allergen. People could have an asthma response to a cold.

They can get much worse if they have any kind of virus or if they are exercising. Using the lungs differently could trigger an asthma response.

Treatments for food allergies at Advanced Allergy and Asthma Associates - Dr. Noga Askenazi

Treatments for food alleriges at Advanced Allergy and Asthma Associates - Dr. Noga Askenazi
Are you allergic to a certain type of food? Watch this video to learn about the treatments available if you face an allergy as Dr. Askenazi explains.
Video Transcript

How do you test for food allergies?

Hello, my name is Dr. Noga Askenazi of Advanced Allergy and Asthma Associates in Elgin and Crystal Lake, Illinois.

We have food extracts to test for food allergies and occasionally use real foods for skin tests. This is done by using a drop of the item and pressing a plastic device onto the skin.

If an individual is allergic, they will respond to that test with some itching, swelling, or local inflammation. Then we can diagnose within 20 minutes.

What are the treatments available for food allergies?

Once the food allergies are diagnosed, there are times we may order some lab work to elicit the total allergic antibody number.

Then we will discuss what that food avoidance would look like and how severe that individual’s allergy may be.

Depending on the severity, we would know whether an EpiPen is recommended or only specific amounts or types of that food are recommended to avoid.

Contact us today and schedule an appointment to get your treatments for food allergies.

Assessing food allergies at Advanced Allergy and Asthma Associates - Dr. Noga Askenazi

Assessing food alleriges at Advanced Allergy and Asthma Associates - Dr. Noga Askenazi
What is a food allergy? What are the methods available to assess whether you are really allergic to a particular food item? Watch this video as Dr. Askenazi explains about it.
Video Transcript

How do you test for food allergies?

Hello, my name is Dr. Noga Askenazi of Advanced Allergy and Asthma Associates in Elgin and Crystal Lake, Illinois.

We have food extracts to test for food allergies and occasionally use real foods for skin tests. This is done by using a drop of the item and pressing a plastic device onto the skin.

If an individual is allergic, they will respond to that test with some itching, swelling, or local inflammation. Then we can diagnose within 20 minutes.

What are the treatments available for food allergies?

Once the food allergies are diagnosed, there are times we may order some lab work to elicit the total allergic antibody number.

Then we will discuss what that food avoidance would look like and how severe that individual’s allergy may be.

Depending on the severity, we would know whether an EpiPen is recommended or only specific amounts or types of that food are recommended to avoid.

Contact us today and schedule an appointment to get your treatments for food allergies.

Food Allergy Awareness Week 2018

http://fare.foodallergy.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=5098.0&dlv_id=8006


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Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates

Meredith Cirrincione | Dr. Noga Askenazi

Amy Schack, a distinguished board-certified Physician Associate, brings a wealth of expertise to patient care. Specializing in allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, and rashes, Amy is renowned for her commitment to excellence and compassionate approach. With a background in immediate care and orthopedics, she holds a Master's in Physician Assistant studies from Midwestern University and a Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University. A member of esteemed professional associations, including the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Amy Schack instills confidence, ensuring you can trust her unwavering dedication to your health and well-being.


Meredith Cirrincione is a board certified Physician Assistant and specializes in treating allergies, with a focus on asthma, rashes, environmental allergies, chemical and food allergies. She holds a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from The Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin University of Health Sciences. She is a Fellow member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. She likes to approach things holistically. She is a strong patient advocate and adored by her patients. She enjoys singing, reading, cooking, and the great outdoors.


Dr. Noga Askenazi is a nationally recognized asthma and allergy specialist who is board certified in pediatric and adult allergy. Her areas of special interest are innovative treatment of rashes, sinusitis, food allergies, asthma and immune disorders. She was past President of the ISAAI (Illinois Society of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology), works on state and national committees for advancement of the allergy field and is a consultant for Advocate, Ascension Health, Northwestern amongst other health care systems. Her joy is helping patients reach their goals after together determining best treatments. Her staff and patients are a chosen family, and she invests in their happiness. She enjoys gardening, biking and cooking to good music.


Our Happy Patients

Many Patients are satisfied and even ecstatic with the abilities of Dr. Askenazi and
the team at Advance Allergy & Asthma Associates.



National Allergy Bureau Pollen and Mold Report.