Food Allergists Near Me

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FAQs:

What is a Food Allergy?

Food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating a certain food. Even a tiny amount of allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives, or swollen airways. In some people, a food allergy can cause severe symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Food allergy affects an estimated 8% of children under age 5 and up to 4% of adults. While there's no cure, some children outgrow their food allergies as they get older.

It's easy to confuse a food allergy with a much more common reaction known as food intolerance. While bothersome, food intolerance is a less serious condition that does not involve the immune system.

What Does a Food Allergist Do?

Most people see a food allergy doctor if they experience an allergic reaction after eating peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, or shellfish. A food allergist can perform a variety of allergy tests – including a skin prick test, blood tests, or oral challenge tests – to determine the exact cause of the reaction. After pinpointing the allergen at fault, a treatment plan can be developed to reduce the threat of a reaction. Due to the prevalence of food allergies, you may find an allergist who chooses to specialize in this particular field.

What is Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome?

Also known as oral allergy syndrome, pollen-food allergy syndrome affects many people who have hay fever. In this condition, certain fresh fruits and vegetables or nuts and spices can trigger an allergic reaction that causes the mouth to tingle or itch. In serious cases, the reaction results in swelling of the throat or even anaphylaxis.

Proteins in certain fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices cause the reaction because they're similar to allergy-causing proteins found in certain pollens. This is an example of cross-reactivity.

Symptoms are typically triggered by eating these foods when they're fresh and uncooked. However, when these foods are cooked, symptoms may be less severe.

What is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-LAK-sis) is a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction. The most common anaphylactic reactions are to foods, insect stings, medications, and latex.

If you are allergic to a substance, your immune system overreacts to this allergen by releasing chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. Typically, these bothersome symptoms occur in one location of the body. However, some people are susceptible to a much more serious anaphylactic reaction. This reaction typically affects more than one part of the body at the same time.

Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical treatment, including a prompt injection of epinephrine and a trip to a hospital emergency room. If it isn’t treated properly, anaphylaxis can be fatal.

Certain people are more at risk of anaphylaxis. If you have allergies or asthma and have a family history of anaphylaxis, your risk is higher. And, if you’ve experienced anaphylaxis your risk of having another anaphylactic reaction is increased.

Accurate diagnosis and successful management of allergies are essential. An allergist/immunologist, often referred to as an allergist, has specialized training and experience to diagnose the problem and help you develop a plan to protect you in the future.

What is Food Allergy Testing?

A food allergy happens when your immune system - your body's defense against germs - overreacts to a certain food as if it was harmful. If you have symptoms after eating certain foods, food allergy testing can help find out if your symptoms are caused by an allergic reaction to those foods. And it's important to find out because allergic reactions to food can be serious.

What is Food Intolerance?

People often confuse food allergies with food intolerance. The symptoms of food intolerance can include burping, indigestion, gas, loose stools, headaches, nervousness, or a feeling of being "flushed." But food intolerance:

- doesn't involve the immune system

- can happen because a person can't digest a substance, such as lactose

- can be unpleasant but is rarely dangerous

What is the Difference Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance?

Food allergy is sometimes confused with food intolerance. Food allergies involve your immune system and can be life-threatening. An intolerance is when your body has trouble digesting food. It can make you feel bad, usually with an upset stomach, but it is not life-threatening. The most common intolerance is to lactose—which is a natural sugar found in milk.

Who's at Risk for Food Allergy?

1. Most food allergies affect younger children under the age of three. It's estimated around 1 in every 14 children of this age has at least one food allergy.

2. Most children who have food allergies to milk, eggs, soya, and wheat in early life will grow out of them by the time they start school.

3. Peanut and tree nut allergies are usually more persistent. An estimated four out of five children with peanut allergies remain allergic to peanuts for the rest of their lives.

4. Food allergies that develop during adulthood, or persist into adulthood, are likely to be lifelong allergies.

5. For reasons that are unclear, rates of food allergies have risen sharply in the last 20 years. However, deaths from anaphylaxis-related food reactions are now rare.

Can an Allergist Detect Food Allergies?

A trained allergist should perform food allergy testing. Some patients may undergo an immunoglobulin E antibody food-specific blood test. Although this can help identify an allergy, this test alone does not mean there is a food allergy and an allergist should interpret the lab results to confirm.

How Long Does it Take for a Reaction to Start After Eating a Food?

Symptoms usually start as soon as a few minutes after eating a food and as long as two hours after. In some cases, after the first symptoms go away, a second wave of symptoms comes back one to four hours later (or sometimes even longer). This second wave is called a biphasic reaction. The risk of a biphasic reaction is why patients who have a severe reaction should stay at a hospital for four to six hours for observation.

What's an Allergy?

An allergy is an abnormal, acquired sensitivity to a given substance, including pollen, drugs, food, venom, or numerous other environmental triggers. An allergy is a local or systemic inflammatory response to allergens. Often times symptoms are swelling of the nasal mucosa, itchy burning eyes, sneezing, wheezing, fullness in the ears, and various skin rashes such as hives, or anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction.

How Food Allergies Work

Food allergies involve two parts of your immune system. One is immunoglobulin E (IgE), a type of protein called an antibody that moves through the blood. The other is mast cells, which you have in all body tissues but especially in places like your nose, throat, lungs, skin, and digestive tract.

The first time you eat a food you're allergic to, certain cells make a lot of IgE for the part of the food that triggers your allergy, called an allergen. The IgE gets released and attaches to the surface of mast cells. You won't have a reaction yet, but now you're set up for one.

The next time you eat that food, the allergen interacts with that IgE and triggers the mast cells to release chemicals such as histamine. Depending on the tissue they're in, these chemicals will cause various symptoms. And since some food allergens aren't broken down by the heat of cooking or by stomach acids or enzymes that digest food, they can cross into your bloodstream. From there, they can travel and cause allergic reactions throughout your body.

The digestion process affects the timing and the location. You may feel itching in your mouth. Then you may have symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or belly pain. Food allergens in your blood can cause a drop in blood pressure. As they reach your skin, they can trigger hives or eczema. In the lungs, they may cause wheezing. All of this takes place within a few minutes to an hour.

Types of Food Allergies

Food allergies are divided into three types, depending on symptoms and when they occur.

- IgE-mediated food allergy – the most common type, triggered by the immune system producing an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Symptoms occur a few seconds or minutes after eating. There's a greater risk of anaphylaxis with this type of allergy.

- non-IgE-mediated food allergy – these allergic reactions aren't caused by immunoglobulin E, but by other cells in the immune system. This type of allergy is often difficult to diagnose as symptoms take much longer to develop (up to several hours).

- mixed IgE and non-IgE-mediated food allergies – some people may experience symptoms from both types.

Symptoms of Food Allergy

For some people, an allergic reaction to a particular food may be uncomfortable but not severe. For other people, an allergic food reaction can be frightening and even life-threatening. Food allergy symptoms usually develop within a few minutes to 2 hours after eating the offending food. Rarely, symptoms may be delayed for several hours.

The most common food allergy signs and symptoms include:

- Tingling or itching in the mouth

- Hives, itching, or eczema

- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat, or other parts of the body

- Wheezing, nasal congestion, or trouble breathing

- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting

- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

Symptoms of Anaphylaxis

In some people, a food allergy can trigger a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This can cause life-threatening signs and symptoms, including:

- Constriction and tightening of the airways

- A swollen throat or the sensation of a lump in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe

- Shock with a severe drop in blood pressure

- Rapid pulse

- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness

Emergency treatment is critical for anaphylaxis. Untreated, anaphylaxis can cause a coma or even death.

Causes of Food Allergy

When you have a food allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or a substance in food as something harmful. In response, your immune system triggers cells to release an antibody known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) to neutralize the allergy-causing food or food substance (the allergen).

The next time you eat even the smallest amount of that food, IgE antibodies sense it and signal your immune system to release a chemical called histamine, as well as other chemicals, into your bloodstream. These chemicals cause allergy symptoms.

The majority of food allergies are triggered by certain proteins:

- Crustacean shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, and crab

- Peanuts

- Tree nuts, such as walnuts and pecans

- Fish

- Chicken eggs

- Cow's milk

- Wheat

- Soy

Most Common Food Allergens

A child could be allergic to any food, but these common allergens cause 90% of all reactions in kids:

- milk

- eggs

- peanuts

- soy

- wheat

- tree nuts (such as walnuts and cashews)

- fish

- shellfish (such as shrimp)

- sesame

What Happens During Food Allergy Testing?

An allergist will ask about your or your child's symptoms, family health history, and medical history, including other allergies. A physical exam is usually done before allergy testing.

Next, your allergist or another provider will do one or more allergy tests. There are many types of allergy tests, and they have different risks. So, ask your provider which tests are best for you or your child. These are the most common tests:

A skin prick test is the most commonly used test. A provider will place a drop of liquid on the skin of your arm or back. The liquid contains a protein from a specific food that may trigger an immune reaction. The provider will prick the skin under the drop so the liquid gets below the surface. Then you'll wait for 15 to 30 minutes. If a red, itchy bump forms, you may have an allergy to that food. More than one food protein may be tested.

An allergy blood test measures immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in your blood. Your immune system makes specific types of IgE in response to different foods. If you have a food allergy, your levels of IgE related to that food may be higher than normal. But the amount of IgE in your blood can't confirm a food allergy or tell you how serious an allergy may be. A blood test may be done with other tests to confirm a food allergy.

To take a blood sample, a healthcare professional will insert a small needle into a vein in your arm. A small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out.

An oral food challenge test is the most accurate food allergy test. It can be used alone to diagnose food allergies. During this test, you will slowly eat increasing amounts of food that are suspected of causing your symptoms. You'll be closely watched for an allergic reaction. If your body doesn't react to the food, you aren't allergic to it.

If you have an allergic reaction, your food allergy is confirmed, and you'll be treated right away for the reaction. The treatment will depend on how severe your reaction is.

A food elimination diet is a test you do at home following instructions from your allergist. You'll start by removing all suspected foods from your diet for about two weeks. Then you'll slowly start adding the foods back to your diet, one at a time. If you have symptoms when you start eating food again, you may be allergic to that food. Your symptoms could also be caused by food intolerance, so other tests may be needed.

A food-elimination diet may not be safe for someone who has had a serious allergic reaction to food in the past.

How to Treat Food Allergies

Currently, food allergies cannot be cured. Scientists are investigating new ways to help people manage food allergies and possibly desensitize them to allergens, but these are still being developed.

Whether you have an IgE-mediated or non-IgE–mediated food allergy, the best way to avoid an allergic reaction is to identify the foods you are allergic to and strictly avoid them.

Depending on the severity of your food allergy, your healthcare professional may prescribe medications, including epinephrine auto-injectors, for you to carry with you at all times in case you accidentally ingest and have a reaction to a food you’re allergic to. These medications may include:

1. Epinephrine. This medication helps reverse symptoms of a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Brand-name epinephrine auto-injectors include EpiPen and Auvi-Q.

2. Antihistamines. These medications can help reduce itching and congestion from less severe allergic reactions.

3. Corticosteroids. These medications may be prescribed to reduce swelling from more severe allergic reactions.

It is important to take all symptoms of food allergy seriously. Both mild and severe symptoms of an IgE-mediated allergic reaction can lead to anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency. While non-IgE–mediated food allergies are less likely to lead to anaphylaxis, they can significantly affect quality of life and should be addressed.

If you suspect you have a food allergy, consult a doctor or allergist to determine which foods you’re allergic to and should avoid. You may also find it helpful to meet with a registered dietitian who can help you safely avoid foods you’re allergic to while ensuring you’re eating a varied, balanced diet that meets your nutrient needs.

How to Prevent Food Allergy

Here are some tips on how to prevent food allergies:

1. Early exposure

Early introduction of peanut products has been associated with a lower risk of peanut allergy. In a recent study, high-risk infants — such as those with atopic dermatitis or egg allergy, or both — were selected to either ingest or avoid peanut products from 4 to 6 months of age until 5 years of age. Researchers found that high-risk children who regularly consumed peanut protein, such as peanut butter or peanut-flavored snacks, were around 80% less likely to develop a peanut allergy. Before introducing allergenic foods, talk with your child's doctor about the best time to offer them.

2. Taking precautions

Once a food allergy has already developed, the best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to know and avoid foods that cause signs and symptoms. For some people, this is a mere inconvenience, but others find it a greater hardship. Also, some foods — when used as ingredients in certain dishes — may be well hidden. This is especially true in restaurants and in other social settings.

If you know you have a food allergy, follow these steps:

- Know what you're eating and drinking. Be sure to read food labels carefully.

- If you have already had a severe reaction, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that lets others know that you have a food allergy in case you have a reaction and you're unable to communicate.

- Talk with your doctor about prescribing emergency epinephrine. You may need to carry an epinephrine autoinjector (Adrenaclick, EpiPen) if you're at risk of a severe allergic reaction.

- Be careful at restaurants. Be certain your server or chef is aware that you absolutely can't eat the food you're allergic to, and you need to be completely certain that the meal you order doesn't contain it. Also, make sure food isn't prepared on surfaces or in pans that contained any of the food you're allergic to. Don't be reluctant to make your needs known. Restaurant staff members are usually more than happy to help when they clearly understand your request.

- Plan meals and snacks before leaving home. If necessary, take a cooler packed with allergen-free foods when you travel or go to an event. If you or your child can't have the cake or dessert at a party, bring an approved special treat so no one feels left out of the celebration.

If your child has a food allergy, take these precautions to ensure his or her safety:

- Notify key people that your child has a food allergy. Talk with childcare providers, school personnel, parents of your child's friends, and other adults who regularly interact with your child. Emphasize that an allergic reaction can be life-threatening and requires immediate action. Make sure that your child also knows to ask for help right away if he or she reacts to food.

- Explain food allergy symptoms. Teach the adults who spend time with your child how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction.

- Write an action plan. Your plan should describe how to care for your child when he or she has an allergic reaction to food. Provide a copy of the plan to your child's school nurse and others who care for and supervise your child.

- Have your child wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace. This alert lists your child's allergy symptoms and explains how others can provide first aid in an emergency.

Risk Factors of Food Allergy 

Food allergy risk factors include:

Family history. You're at increased risk of food allergies if asthma, eczema, hives, or allergies such as hay fever are common in your family.

Other allergies. If you're already allergic to one food, you may be at increased risk of becoming allergic to another. Similarly, if you have other types of allergic reactions, such as hay fever or eczema, your risk of having a food allergy is greater.

Age. Food allergies are more common in children, especially toddlers and infants. As children grow older, their digestive systems mature and their bodies are less likely to absorb food or food components that trigger allergies.

Fortunately, children typically outgrow allergies to milk, soy, wheat, and eggs. Severe allergies and allergies to nuts and shellfish are more likely to be lifelong.

Asthma. Asthma and food allergies commonly occur together. When they do, both food allergy and asthma symptoms are more likely to be severe.

Factors that may increase your risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction include:

- Having a history of asthma

- Being a teenager or younger

- Delaying the use of epinephrine to treat your food allergy symptoms

- Not having hives or other skin symptoms

How to Find a Food Allergist

Choosing the right allergy doctor can make a big difference in keeping your allergies at bay. Let’s talk about a few things to consider in your search for the right allergy doctor, and where you can go to get to the bottom of your food allergies.

1. Look for Board Certification

When considering an allergy doctor’s medical credentials, make sure that they are board-certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI). Many ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctors test for airborne allergies such as hay fever, but you need a board-certified allergist or immunologist to test for food allergies. Board certification is the highest level of accreditation awarded to a medical specialist.

2. Look for an Allergist Who Offers a Range of Services

There is no single method to test for a food allergy, so it usually takes a comprehensive evaluation – such as a skin prick, a blood test, and an oral food test. An allergist who provides a variety of tests would be able to accurately diagnose a food allergy. A positive result from a skin-prick test is usually not enough to make a food allergy diagnosis. In fact, it is very common for food allergies to be misdiagnosed and therefore treated improperly, but this can have lasting and harmful effects. Therefore, be sure to choose an allergist who offers a full range of diagnostic tests and is not hesitant about administering them.

3. Ask for Recommendations and Referrals

A word-of-mouth recommendation from a family member or friend is invaluable when looking for a good allergy doctor. Also, you can ask your primary care doctor for a referral to an allergist they trust. Remember to check your insurance coverage list for allergists who take your insurance. If a doctor you’re interested in isn’t on the list, feel free to call the doctor’s practice to see whether they do indeed accept your coverage – or, if not, how that would be handled.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic

Chacko

Essentia Health

Medline Plus

WebMD

Healthline

Kids Health

NHS Inform

FARE

AAAAI

Oak Brook Allergists

 

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.