What you need to know about food allergies, By Dr. Shome

With food allergies on the rise, especially in children, Covenant Health System would like to spread awareness about food allergies. Dr. Shome, an allergy, asthma and immunology specialist with Covenant Medical Group, provides tips on how to spot and deal with food allergies:

• Food allergies usually start at an early age – possibly when a child is only a few months old.
• If a child continually spits out table food, this could be a sign that he is allergic. As the child gets older, the symptoms will become more noticeable. Food allergy symptoms can include, a rash, itching in and around the mouth, lip swelling, mouth swelling, trouble breathing and an asthma attack.
• A true food allergy causes a reaction within minutes of ingesting the food.
• Every individual is unique, but about 90 percent show skin symptoms, such as a rash or lip swelling when experiencing a food allergy. About 70 percent have lung symptoms such as wheezing. A very small percentage will pass out or have a drop in blood percentage.
• Some will also experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting. This symptom will always be in conjunction with symptoms stated above, never alone.
• If someone is having an acute allergic reaction they should be taken to the emergency room immediately. If the reaction is mild, an antihistamine can be taken.
• Dangerous signs of an allergic reaction are trouble breathing, throat tightness, dizziness and lightheadedness and itching.
  There are no studies that suggest that if you do not eat a certain food, you will avoid a food allergy.
• There is no cure or way to prevent future allergic reactions to food. You must avoid the foods you are allergic to. It is important to read food labels and understand cross-reactivity. This means that if you are allergic to a type of nut, you could be allergic to other types as well.
• If you have a severe food allergy and are prescribed an EpiPen, it is important to learn how to use it correctly. After using an EpiPen, you must still go to the emergency room to be examined. It is possible an individual could have a delayed reaction four to six hours later.
• It is possible for children to outgrow food allergies. However, allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish will most likely never be outgrown.
• Food allergies are on the rise. There are only theories as to why this is true. One is that most food we eat is processed.