Allergic reactions happen when the immune system identifies a certain food as harmful, triggering various symptoms and conditions. Understanding and identifying food allergies with a food allergy test is crucial for improving one’s quality of life.
What Are Food Allergies?
Our immune system normally defends against bacteria and viruses, however, in cases of food allergy, the immune system may detect harmless proteins as a threat and release chemicals like histamine to combat them, which ultimately results in allergic reactions.
Difference Between Food Allergy And Food Intolerance
Food intolerance is sometimes mistaken for food allergies. Food intolerance is not a immune reaction but actually is the digestive system’s response due to difficulty in digesting certain enzymes. For example, people with lactose intolerance have a deficiency in enzymes that break down dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter whereas dairy allergy involves immune response to proteins found in dairy products.
Common Symptoms of Food Allergies
Allergic reactions differ from one person to another in terms of severity and symptoms. Typically symptoms occur short time after consumption of allergenic foods but can also take several hours to manifest. Following are the most common symptoms of food allergies:
Skin Reactions
- Hives: Raised, red, itchy bumps that can appear anywhere on the body.
- Eczema: Dry, flaky patches of skin that may become inflamed and itchy.
- Swelling: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, which may affect breathing.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
- Abdominal pain: Discomfort or cramping in the stomach.
- Nausea and vomiting: Feeling sick or physically throwing up after eating a certain food.
- Diarrhea: Loose, watery stools after consuming the allergen.
Respiratory Symptoms
- Sneezing: Irritation of the nasal passages.
- Wheezing: A high-pitched sound during breathing, often a sign of airway constriction.
- Coughing and shortness of breath: Respiratory difficulty, which can be especially dangerous in severe cases.
Anaphylaxis
It is a severe allergic reaction that can be life threatening. Symptoms of anaphylaxis includes;
- Difficulty breathing due to swelling of the airways.
- A rapid drop in blood pressure.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Rapid or weak pulse.
Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention and can be fatal without prompt treatment, usually with an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline).
These symptoms can manifest due to one or several foods which can only be detected through an allergy test at home. Food allergy tests are designed to pinpoint the allergens in the diet that can cause discomfort or life threatening emergency.
Common Causes of Food Allergies
Food allergies are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to certain proteins found in foods. These proteins are mostly harmless, but in some individuals, their immune system perceives these as a threat. Some common causes of food allergies include:
Genetics – Family history plays a significant role in the likelihood of developing food allergies. Parents with allergies may pass on their allergies to their children. If a parent has taken a food allergy test, it would be wise to do the same test with the children as well.
Immune System Sensitization – Food allergies occur when the immune system is sensitized to a food protein, meaning it “remembers” the protein as harmful. This can happen during early exposure to allergenic foods or, in some cases, even with skin contact or inhalation of airborne particles from the food.
Environmental Factors – Hygiene and dietary habits are some of the environmental factors that may contribute to the rise of food allergies. The “hygiene hypothesis” suggests that modern environments, which are cleaner and less exposed to microbes, may weaken the immune system’s ability to tolerate harmless substances like food proteins.
Common Allergenic Foods – Although any food can cause an allergic reaction, some foods are more likely to trigger allergies than others. The most common allergenic foods are known as the “big eight”.
- Milk and its derivatives
- Eggs and products made with eggs
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts)
- Fish
- Shellfish like lobsters, crabs etc.
- Wheat
- Soy
Food Allergy Tests: How Are They Diagnosed?
Identifying food allergies is crucial to prevent exposure and manage symptoms. Various allergy tests at home are available to help diagnose food allergies and determine trigger foods. Food allergy tests are usually performed by an expert allergist or immunologist.
Skin Prick Test (SPT) – The skin prick test is one of the most common methods for diagnosing food allergies. Small amounts of common allergens are placed on the skin and the area is lightly pricked or scratched to allow the allergen to penetrate. A small red bump appears at the testing area quickly. Food allergy tests such as SPT give results immediately and can be performed at home by a DHA certified nurse. This test is generally safe but in rare cases it can trigger a severe allergic reaction which can be monitored and handled by the nurse. Allergy tests at home are a comfortable mean of identifying allergens at the comfort of your home.
Blood Test (Specific IgE Test) – IgE antibodies are produced in the blood stream as a response to specific allergens. Food allergy test conducted through blood sample measure these antibodies in the blood stream which can suggest an allergic reaction to particular foods. Such food allergy tests are performed when skin tests are not a safe option or there is a risk of severe reaction.
Oral Food Challenge – During this food allergy test, the patient consumes small amounts of suspected allergens under medical supervision. The amount of allergens is increased gradually to see the reaction. Such food allergy tests are highly accurate but also time consuming.
Elimination Diet – An elimination diet is a food allergy test at home that involves removing suspected allergenic foods from the diet for a certain period, typically two to four weeks, and then gradually reintroducing them one by one. If symptoms disappear during the elimination phase and return when the food is reintroduced, it is likely that the food is causing the allergic reaction.
Conclusion
Food allergies are uncomfortable and in some cases life threatening. For people suffering with any symptoms, food allergy tests are a life-saving service provided make certain changes in diet and lifestyle to lead a care-free life.
