How do I know if I have a food allergy?
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Dr. Jill Grimes answered:You will know you have a food allergy if you have signs and symptoms within minutes to a couple hours after exposure to even small amounts of the offending protein. Signs of food allergies include itchy, red rashes; swelling; flushing; nausea; abdominal cramping and diarrhea; stuffy nose; wheezing; racing heart; and metallic taste in your mouth.
Your doctor will diagnose a food allergy mainly by history, combined with either skin or blood testing for more accuracy. Skin testing can be helpful, but there are many false-positives, which means the test says there is an allergy, but there is not. Negative results on a skin test, however, are very accurate that there is no food allergy, so that can be very reassuring. Blood tests are also poorly predictive, being accurate only roughly half of the time. However, high levels of blood tested antibodies are very suggestive of an allergy to that food.
If you think you may have a true food allergy, discuss it with your doctor and consider additional testing before permanently restricting your diet.
You will know you have a food allergy if you have signs and symptoms within minutes to a couple hours after exposure to even small amounts of the offending protein. Signs of food allergies include itchy, red rashes; swelling; flushing;... More -
Dr. Scott Sicherer of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:There are some typical symptoms timed with eating the food. Sudden allergic reactions generally begin minutes to an hour or two after the food is eaten. Typical symptoms include any or a combination of: hives (like mosquito bites), skin swelling, itchy rashes, throat tightness, trouble breathing, wheeze, cough, stomach pain, vomit, diarrhea, and signs of poor blood circulation (pale, dizzy, confusion, losing consciousness). There are also a number of chronic symptoms that can signal a food allergy, such as certain types of rashes (usually in children) or gut symptoms. Some illnesses may look like food allergy but are not, such as some types of food poisoning or intolerance to milk sugars (lactose intolerance). If you suspect a food allergy, always ask your doctor!
There are some typical symptoms timed with eating the food. Sudden allergic reactions generally begin minutes to an hour or two after the food is eaten. Typical symptoms include any or a combination of: hives (like mosquito bites), skin... More -
Ms. Vandana Sheth of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered:According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network " Symptoms may include one or more of the following: a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and even death. Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after the person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic."
If you suspect having a food allergy, consult your physician/allergist to schedule allergy testing for an accurate diagnosis.
According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network " Symptoms may include one or more of the following: a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea,... More
