Diagnosis of a food allergy is a vital first step.
According to Parents.com:
One in 13 kids is now affected by a food allergy — a 100 percent jump from just 15 years ago — meaning that one or two of the kids in any given setting is allergic. While some have only had mild reactions, such as an itchy mouth, hives, or upset stomach, 40 percent of allergic kids have had a severe reaction, including life-threatening anaphylaxis, which usually involves symptoms such as a rash, hives, swelling of the lips or tongue, vomiting, abnormal heartbeat, and trouble breathing. And all children are vulnerable. One-quarter of reactions at school occur in kids who have never been diagnosed with an allergy.
“Any person who’s had a mild allergic reaction has the potential to have a major reaction in the future,” says pediatrician Hugh Sampson, M.D., director of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai Medical Center, in New York City, and a Parents advisor. “But we still have no good way of predicting who will have such reactions or when they will occur.”
A food allergy is an immune-mediated adverse reaction to a particular food. For someone with a food allergy, eating or swallowing even a tiny amount of a particular food can cause symptoms such as skin rash, nausea, vomiting, cramping, and diarrhea. Because the body is reacting to something that is otherwise harmless, this type of allergic reaction is often called a hypersensitivity reaction. Rarely, a severe allergic reaction can cause a life-threatening set of symptoms called anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock.
It is easy to confuse food intolerance with food allergy because they can have similar symptoms. With food intolerance, however, a person usually gets only mild symptoms such as an upset stomach
Food Allergy Diagnosis
Generally a food allergy is identified by signs and symptoms. Medical professionals are trained to recognize hives, swelling patterns, rashes, and other symptoms associated with allergic reactions. The person will be asked questions about their medical history and possible triggers of the reaction. Blood tests and other tests are needed only under very unusual circumstances, such as anaphylaxis.
Some people can pinpoint which food caused the allergic reaction, especially if the reaction occurs within minutes of consuming a particular food. Many others will need to see an allergist for special testing to determine the exact food that is responsible.
After getting advice from the health care professional, some mild allergic reactions may be treated at home. Any worsening of symptoms requires medical attention.
Links
www.emedicinehealth.com
www.foodallergy.org
Safe Testing
It is vital that you as a person with potential food allergies or a parent to make sure you have been tested properly by a medical professional. Here is a link to 15
Unproven Methods of Food Allergy Tests:
www.kidswithfoodallergies.org
