Common Causes and Treatment of Food Allergies

Have you ever eaten something and wondered if you were allergic to what you ate because your body reacted to it? Many people often think they have food allergies because of how their body reacts to certain types of food. More than likely, however, what you may experiencing is an intolerance and not an actual allergy. A food intolerance will cause stomach upset, cramping, and diarrhea, while a food allergy will actually trigger a response from the immune system, which can lead to trouble breathing, hives, and anaphylactic shock.

Generally, causes of food allergies are often inherited genes. If a child has a parent with allergies, they have a greater chance of developing food allergies. If they have two parents with allergies, they will more than likely have allergic reactions to certain types of foods. Whether or not the parent has food allergies or not is irrelevant. Basically, food allergies are caused when an individual is predisposed to have any type of allergy. Even if the parent simply has dust allergies, the child can very likely end up with a food allergy of some sort.

When an individual has a food allergy, once they eat the food, it triggers certain cells within their body to produce immunoglobulin E. This is released in the body and will attach itself to mast cells. No reactions may show at this time, but the next time the individual eats that same particular food, there is a chemical reaction and the cells produce chemicals, such as histamine. This can send out a variety of allergic reactions, depending upon which tissues actually released the chemicals. If near the mouth, it can cause problems breathing and if near the stomach, it may cause diarrhea and cramping.

Some of the most common food allergies include lobster, crab, peanuts, fish, and eggs. If you suspect you or your child has food allergies, your doctor can help to diagnose the food allergy by doing blood tests and allergy skin tests. If you are diagnosed with food allergies, your doctor may prescribe to you various medications to help you, including antihistamines, ant cholinergic nasal allergy sprays, decongestants, and steroids. Treatment of food allergies will depend upon the allergic reactions you experience and other factors that will be analyzed by your doctor.

Your doctor will also recommend that you stay away from the foods you are allergic to. While this can be difficult for some, especially children, it is very important to understand the severity of food allergies. Reactions to food allergies can cause anaphylactic shock, where the individual's throat swells to the point that they are asphyxiated. If you or your child is allergic to a variety of foods, it is very important to become fully educated on the foods and what they may be in, as well as informing those around you of your allergies. Young children can also wear bracelets and necklaces stating they have severe food allergies to alert others in case they do begin to have any type of reaction.

Sources:

WebMD www.webmd.com

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network www.foodallergy.org