IL specialists confirm or rule out suspected food allergies with an oral challenge test

More than a quarter of 40,000 children surveyed outgrew their food allergies, according to the largest study of its kind conducted by researchers from Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Your child is more likely to outgrow a food allergy if he or she:

• Is allergic to milk, egg, or soy
• Experienced an allergic reaction at a very young age
• Has a history of mild to moderate reactions
• Is allergic to just one food
• Experiences no more than eczema as a symptom

Children with severe swelling, respiratory problems, or anaphylaxis, as well as children with multiple allergies to foods such as shellfish and peanuts, were less likely to have outgrown their allergies. Since there are so many people that do outgrow their symptoms with age, it is important to know the status of your current health.

Furthermore, a number of recent studies have reportedly found anywhere between 50 percent and 90 percent of self-reported food allergies weren’t allergies at all. Dr. Noga Askenazi and the staff can evaluate if you truly have a food allergy at present with an oral challenge test conducted at one of their convenient IL locations in Crystal Lake or Elgin.

While skin tests are widely accepted to diagnose a range of allergies, a definitive diagnosis can’t always be determined with these and other types of tests (such as blood testing) alone. This is where the oral ingestion challenge comes into play.

During this test, you will consume a very small amount of the suspected food. The food will be measured and the specialists at the Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates and Food Allergy Center of Illinois will supervise the entire process for your safety.

Dr. Askenazi will then watch for any food allergy symptoms. If no symptoms are seen, you will receive a slightly larger dose of the suspected allergen. This process will be repeated until a reaction is noticed or a predetermined final dose is reached. Most of the time, these symptoms are very mild, such as rashes or flushing. However, Dr. Askenazi may give you antihistamines or medications for symptom relief should you need them.

In this controlled and safe manner, our specialists can get you on the road to an effective food avoidance and treatment plan or rule out any foods as the cause of your symptoms. After all, you may have been misdiagnosed or may have outgrown your food allergies, or you could have a different trigger entirely.

Call (847) 888-8802 to schedule an appointment that will bring you closer to understanding any distressing symptoms you may be experiencing.

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