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The Allergy and Asthma Clinic In observation of
Memorial Day
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Food Allergy If eating a food gives you headaches, skin rashes, hives, abdominal cramping or difficulty breathing, you may have a food allergy. Food allergies occur when you have an abnormal sensitivity to a food which is normally harmless. Fortunately, life-threatening food allergies are very rare. However, even if your food allergies are not fatal, they can still make you miserable. The most common foods that cause allergies include peanuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, tree nuts and wheat. The best possible treatment for food allergy is to avoid the specific food. In some cases, a food allergy can be life-threatening and in these cases, all efforts must be made to keep that food away from the child’s diet and his/her activities. Children with severe food allergies should be given additional attention since the probability of accidental ingestion is higher. In these cases, the child’s school or other daycare providers should be informed of the specific allergy. For those with severe food allergies, the Food Allergy Network can be a great resource and often provide food recall alerts. When it's not obvious to you what foods you are allergic to, allergy testing can help give you the answers. With this information, most patients with food allergies are able to modify their diet, have healthy tasty meals and live perfectly normal lives. With the help of an allergist, you can develop a treatment plan which helps you stay out of trouble in the first place and also gives you specific instructions on what to do if you have a reaction to a particular food. Food Allergy Action PlanThe incidence of food allergy is on the rise and more and more people, particularly children, are significantly impacted by these allergies. Parents are often overwhelmed and are sometimes confused about the proper steps they should take to deal with their allergic child. First and foremost, especially in children over 18 months of age, it is important to diagnose the allergy and see what impact, if any, this has on the child’s allergic history. If clinically indicated, the food should be avoided as much as possible. For those who have had food allergies themselves or have a child with food allergies, this is not always an easy task. Besides multiple ingredients are often found in many foods, there is also the possibility of “cross-contamination”, a growing concern in many of the places where food is processed. However, it is equally important to keep in mind the importance of maintaining a well, balanced diet to keep up with the physical demands of a growing child. The most common foods that cause allergies include peanuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, tree nuts and wheat. In some cases, a food allergy can be life-threatening and all efforts must be made to keep that specific food away from the child. Children with severe food allergies should be given special attention since the probability of accidental ingestion is greater than it is with adults. The child’s daycare provider and school should be informed of the allergy and what appropriate actions should be taken if an accidental ingestion has taken place. Below is what we call a “Food Allergy Action Plan” and many of our patients have found this tool to be quite useful.
When Dr. Engler attended the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in November of 2010, the current guidelines on the management of food allergies were debated. At that meeting, it was reiterated that it is important to breast feed your child for at least 4-6 months and to begin supplemental feedings thereafter, without restriction to any specific foods commonly eaten. Of course, if the child develops any symptoms suggestive of a food allergy such as eczema, hives or any more serious reactions, such as breathing difficulties, then that food should be avoided and a proper allergy evaluation should be undertaken. Several major studies (including desensitization for peanut and another for egg allergy) are currently underway and should offer great promise in the very near future. While avoidance remains the recommended treatment at this timed, it appears that there will be very promising treatment options within the next few years.
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