Food is an essential source of nutrition, and people are encouraged to maintain well-rounded diets to ensure optimal health. For people with food allergies, avoiding certain foods is key to preventing an unpleasant, and sometimes dangerous, bodily response. Here are some key facts to consider about food allergies and how they’re usually managed.
The immune system protects you from viruses, bacteria, and other illness-causing substances. However, the immune system can sometimes misinterpret harmless substances for harmful ones. With food allergies, the immune system may launch a response when a person eats a certain type of food, such as:
Food allergies can range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include hives, tingling in the mouth, nasal congestion, facial swelling, stomach pain, and dizziness. In more serious cases, food allergies can cause anaphylaxis. This is a severe allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention, as anaphylaxis can be life-threatening.
Treatment and Management of Food Allergies
Medications can mitigate allergic reactions to certain foods. When reactions are mild, antihistamines can help control symptoms like hives and nasal congestion. With serious allergic reactions, an epinephrine autoinjector can reverse severe medical effects and allow time for the person to seek emergency treatment.
The best way to deal with food allergies is to avoid the food that triggers symptoms. If a child has a food allergy, be sure their school and other family members are aware of their condition. If possible, provide a child with safe food to avoid issues with cross-contamination.
As for adults with food allergies, exercising caution when eating out or at other people’s homes is key. Carrying an epinephrine autoinjector is recommended in the event of accidental ingestion of an allergen.
Food allergies cannot necessarily be prevented, but some research shows that providing allergens to children at an early age can reduce their risk of developing a food allergy. However, this should be done under the supervision of a medical practitioner and allergens should never be provided to children with known allergies.