There’s a warning for anyone with food allergies; often, exposure to allergens can crop up in very unexpected places.
For example, a 7-month old infant in the U.K. went into anaphylactic shock at his daycare. Daycare workers had dipped his foot in what seemed to be harmless finger paint to make a footprint picture for his mom. However, while the daycare staff was aware of the baby’s severe dairy allergy, they did not know the finger paint had a dairy base. Fortunately, everything turned out fine for the baby, but the incident illustrates how allergens can hide in the most unexpected places.
While extreme allergic reactions are uncommon when the food hasn’t actually been ingested, it’s not unheard of. If you or your child has a food allergy, check the ingredients on anything that you or your child may eat or come in contact with.
Food allergies affect approximately 5% of children and adults, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Food allergy reactions are very common in infants and children, however, food allergies can develop at any age. A food allergy can even arise to foods you’ve consumed for years without a problem.
What are the symptoms of a food allergy?
Common symptoms of a food allergy reaction usually manifest through the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. However, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems can also be affected.
Nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps
Breaking out in hives
Shortness of breath
Coughing and wheezing
Trouble swallowing and tightness in the throat
Tongue swelling
Weak pulse
Pale or blue skin
Dizziness or fainting
Anaphylactic shock
If you suspect you have a food allergy, an allergist at Premier Allergy can help you determine the source.
While you could develop an allergy to any food, there are some foods that are more common allergens than others.
There are just eight foods that account for nearly 90% of all allergic reactions:
Eggs
Milk
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Fish
Shellfish
Wheat
Soy
Likewise, seeds are a common allergen. In fact, sesame and mustard seeds are considered a major food allergen among some populations.
Most food allergy reactions happen within two hours of eating, but food allergy symptoms can start within minutes. However, some reactions may take four to six hours or longer, making pinpointing the offending food even more difficult.
To diagnosis a food allergy, the allergist will ask very detailed questions; they will cover your medical history as well as your symptoms. A Premier Allergy doctor will ask these questions:
What you ate and how much
How long did it take for symptoms to manifest
What type of symptoms you experienced as well as how long the symptoms lasted
Your allergist may order blood or skin tests to see if you have food-related immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. A skin test will show results in less than half an hour. The results of a blood test will take about a week.
Food ingredients are present in many products, such as skin creams, and even finger paints. While it’s unusual to have a strong food allergy reaction to topical products, it can happen. Always read every label for any product you may consume or put on your skin.
