Food Allergies ~ peanuts and other nuts ~ seafood, such as shrimp ~ milk, particularly cow's milk ~ eggs ~ soy.

Food Allergies

~ peanuts and other nuts

~ seafood, such as shrimp

~ milk, particularly cow's milk

~ eggs

~ soy

History of food allergies

Food allergies happen when your immune system makes a error.

Usually, your immune system protects you from germs and disease.

The immune system does this by creating antibodies that assist you to fight off bacteria, viruses, and small organisms that can lead to sickness.

If someone has a food allergy, their immune system treats the food as if it's dangerous to you.

How to test for food allergies

skin prick test

blood test

food challenge test

elimination diet

Symptoms of food allergies

Tingling in the mouth

Hives and itching

Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat

Wheezing or trouble breathing

Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

What is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?

A food intolerance is not life threatening and does not involve the immune system.

A food allergy involves the immune system and is life threatening.

Peanut allergies

Peanut allergies can also be caused by nuts that grow on trees, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, and cashews.

About 100 to 150 people in the USA die each year from peanut allergies.

Seafood allergies

Seafood allergies can be caused by shellfish as well as tuna and salmon

Some 7 million Americans are thought to be affected or 2.3% of the population.

Milk allergies

Milk allergies can be caused by any dairy products.

.2% to .6% of babies are allergic to milkThen, 1 percent to 3 percent of infants

and children turn out to be truly allergic. Then, eighty percent outgrow it by the

age of six.

Egg allergies

Most egg allergies start in childhood, and in rare cases egg allergies develop at older ages.

But, as many as two-thirds of children who are allergic to eggs outgrow their egg allergies by age seven.

Soy allergies

Almost 60% of processed foods have soy in the ingredients.

Most people who are allergic to soy are usually allergic to peas, peanuts, lentils and garbanzo beans.

Citations

http://www.allergicchild.com

http://kidshealth.org/kid/illinjure/sick/food_allergies.html

http://www.faanteen.com/allergens/index.html