ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Food allergies

What is food allergies?

4 May 2021

It is a condition that occurs after having consumed some food that can trigger physical symptoms that range from mild to severe. It is an immune system defense against something that it considers dangerous for the body, releasing immunoglobulin E, which is an antibody that neutralizes the allergen, that is, the substance or food that causes the allergic reaction.

Many studies indicate that the proteins contained in the following foods are the cause of food allergies in children:

  • Peanut.
  • Walnut.
  • Almond.
  • Egg.
  • Milk.
  • Soy.
  • Wheat.

For adults:

  • Peanut.
  • Walnut.
  • Almond.
  • Seafood.
  • Fish.

Potential risks:

  • Having relatives who have suffered from asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis.
  • Being asthmatic.
  • Food allergies are more common in babies and children because their digestive systems are developing, making them more vulnerable.
  • It is more likely that you will develop food allergies if you suffer from allergies.

Signs and symptoms Food allergies

In general, the symptoms appear minutes or hours after eating. Characteristic signs include:

  • Abdominal pain.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomit.
  • Swollen face, throat, lips, and tongue.
  • Nasal congestion, shortness of breath, or wheezing.
  • Numbness or tingling in the lips.
  • Dizziness.
  • Confusion.
  • Fainting.
  • Urticaria.
  • Itch.
  • Rash.

Occasionally, a serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis can occur, in which the following symptoms occur:

  • Narrowing of the airways.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Dizziness.
  • Fainting.
  • Significant decrease in blood pressure.
    Accelerated heartbeat.

In these cases, you should go immediately to the ABC Medical Center Emergency Room because anaphylaxis can put the person’s life at risk.

Diagnosis and treatment Food allergies

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and medical history, he or she will perform a complete physical examination, request blood tests, and a skin prick test to observe your reaction to a specific food.

Likewise, you will be asked to remove from your diet the foods that may be causing your allergy and gradually reincorporate them.

You may also require an oral provocation test, in which you will be fed small portions of the food that may be causing your allergy.

The treatment to follow will consist of completely removing the food that causes your allergy from your diet, as well as carrying oral antihistamines and epinephrine shots with you for any emergency since so far no treatments have been found that help prevent a food allergy attack or completely relieve the symptoms.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Food allergies

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

 Fuentes:

  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • msdmanuals.com
  • cun.es
  • rchsd.org
  • medigraphic.com
  • Cuevas RAP, Iglesias LJ, Bernárdez ZI, et al. Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la alergia a proteínas de la leche de vaca en un hospital privado de la Ciudad de México. Arch Inv Mat Inf. 2020;11(1):6-11. doi:10.35366/100322.
  • Boza Oreamuno YV, Rugama FMF. Manifestaciones bucales de la enfermedad celíaca y alergia al trigo: Reporte de tres casos y revisión literatura. Odovtos-Int J Dent Sc. 2021;23(1):18-30.
  • Huerta HRE. Cuidados de la piel y prevención en dermatitis atópica y alergia a alimentos. Alerg Asma Inmunol Pediatr. 2020;29(2):45-46. doi:10.35366/95488.
  • Valle RI, Huerta LJG, Huerta HRE. Alergia a alimentos. Alerg Asma Inmunol Pediatr. 2017;26(1):5-15.

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    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.