What is a food allergy?
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NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered:People with food allergies have immune systems that mistakenly react to certain foods as an invader (like a virus), causing an immune response. Common food allergens include cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, shellfish, and tree nuts. You are more likely to develop a food allergy if someone else in your family has allergies.
Symptoms of a food allergy include hives, itchiness, and tingling or swelling of the skin, tongue, and/or mouth. In severe cases, a person may develop anaphylaxis, which is a serious reaction that causes difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
People with food allergies have immune systems that mistakenly react to certain foods as an invader (like a virus), causing an immune response. Common food allergens include cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, shellfish, and tree nuts. You are... More -
National Academy of Sports Medicine answered:A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks a food component. Ingestion of the offending food may trigger the sudden release of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in symptoms of an allergic reaction. The symptoms may be mild (rashes, hives, itching, swelling, etc.) or severe (trouble breathing, wheezing, loss of consciousness, etc.). A food allergy can be potentially fatal.A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks a food component. Ingestion of the offending food may trigger the sudden release of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in symptoms of an allergic reaction. The symptoms... More -
Dr. Scott Sicherer of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:A food allergy happens when the immune system responds to food proteins in one of two main ways that lead to troubles.
Sudden allergic reactions generally begin minutes to an hour or two after the food is eaten. The 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). These allergic reactions are caused by our body making a protein called IgE antibody. However, not everyone making these proteins have reactions to foods.
Another way that the immune system can “attack” food protein is by having various immune cells involved leading to inflammation. This can lead to persistent rashes or gut problems (pain, vomit, diarrhea, poor growth, etc). These same symptoms are caused by many different triggers and illnesses so your doctor must consider many possibilities.
A food allergy happens when the immune system responds to food proteins in one of two main ways that lead to troubles. Sudden allergic reactions generally begin minutes to an hour or two after the food is eaten. The typical symptoms... More -
Dr. Jill Grimes answered:A food allergy is an immune reaction to a food protein. The most common allergens are peanut, fish, shellfish, and other tree nuts. Do not confuse a food allergy with food reactions, such as lactose intolerance.
A food allergy is an immune reaction to a food protein. The most common allergens are peanut, fish, shellfish, and other tree nuts. Do not confuse a food allergy with food reactions, such as lactose intolerance. More -
Ms. Vandana Sheth of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered:According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network "Food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks a food protein. Ingestion of the offending food may trigger the sudden release of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in symptoms of an allergic reaction. The symptoms may be mild (rashes, hives, itching, swelling, etc.) or severe (trouble breathing, wheezing, loss of consciousness, etc.). A food allergy can be potentially fatal. Scientists estimate that as many as 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies."
According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network " Food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks a food protein. Ingestion of the offending food may trigger the sudden release of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in... More -
Ashley Koff answered:Anyone who has the unfortunate experience of consuming a problematic food knows that it's an energy killer. Food allergies, for instance, are on the rise today, especially among children. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of kids with food allergies has gone up. This term can be misconstrued, however. A true food allergy is an abnormal response to food that is triggered by a specific reaction of the immune system and expressed by certain, often characteristic, symptoms. Other kinds of reactions to foods that are not food allergies include food intolerances (such as lactose intolerance), food poisoning, and toxic reactions.
Anyone who has the unfortunate experience of consuming a problematic food knows that it's an energy killer. Food allergies, for instance, are on the rise today, especially among children. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and... More -
Dr. Leigh Vinocur answered:Allergies, in general, are an overreaction of our immune system. With food allergies, our immune system mistakes food proteins as a foreign invading germs, causing hives, rash, even trouble breathing and potentially deadly low blood pressure with shock and anaphylaxis. The most common food allergies are to milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts), fish and shellfish, as well as soy and wheat. There is no cure for food allergies. You need to carefully manage your food allergies with prevention and vigilance.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, most children outgrow milk, egg, soy and wheat allergies. About 10-20% of kids will even outgrow peanut or tree nut allergies.
Allergies, in general, are an overreaction of our immune system. With food allergies, our immune system mistakes food proteins as a foreign invading germs, causing hives, rash, even trouble breathing and potentially deadly low blood pressure with... More -
UCLA Health answered:Food allergies are allergic reactions to foods -- most often milk, eggs, soy and wheat, peanuts and tree nuts, fish and shellfish. These account for a large number of emergency room visits and a few deaths each year in the United States. Exposure to these foods may cause adverse reactions in the digestive or respiratory systems, on the skin or, in the most severe cases, anaphylactic shock or death.Food allergies are allergic reactions to foods -- most often milk, eggs, soy and wheat, peanuts and tree nuts, fish and shellfish. These account for a large number of emergency room visits and a few deaths each year in the United States. Exposure to... More -
Greenville Health System answered:Food allergies are an important health concern affecting children and adults. A food allergy is an adverse health effect arising from an immune response that involves a specific IgE antibody. This immune response should recur on exposure to a certain food. An example is a child who, when exposed to milk protein, develops hives.
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Food allergies are an important health concern affecting children and adults. A food allergy is an adverse health effect arising from an immune response that involves a specific IgE antibody. This immune response should recur on exposure to a... More -
Healthwise answered:A food allergy happens when your immune system overreacts to certain foods. In most cases, the reaction is mild, causing symptoms like a rash, a stuffy nose, or an upset stomach. A serious food allergy can make your tongue or throat swell and make it hard to breathe. This can be deadly. Quick treatment can stop a dangerous reaction.A food allergy happens when your immune system overreacts to certain foods. In most cases, the reaction is mild, causing symptoms like a rash, a stuffy nose, or an upset stomach. A serious food allergy can make your tongue or throat swell and make... More -
A food allergy is an immune reaction caused by exposure to certain types of foods. In those with food allergies, the body incorrectly identifies certain foods as harmful and produces chemicals to "protect" the body. These chemicals and/or immune responses are responsible for the symptoms commonly experienced during an allergic attack. These symptoms can range from mild abdominal pain and gas to life-threatening swelling of the airway.A food allergy is an immune reaction caused by exposure to certain types of foods. In those with food allergies, the body incorrectly identifies certain foods as harmful and produces chemicals to "protect" the body. These chemicals and/or... More
