Food allergy is when our immune system reacts soon after eating a certain type of food. Even a small amount of this allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, bloated stomach etc.
Food allergies are extremely common. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 8 types of foods cause 90% of food allergic reactions in the United States. Symptoms can occur anywhere from a few minutes after exposure to a few hours, depending on the type of allergy. They may include:
However, some cases can be fatal.
Eight types of food causes for about 90% of all food allergies. These foods are:
If you suspect you have a food allergy, allergy/immunology providers can perform a skin test to confirm it. During a skin test, your healthcare provider:
1. Applies a small amount of different types of allergens (allergy-causing substances) to your skin on your arms or back.
2. Makes tiny pricks or scratches through the allergens.
3. Measures your reactions to the allergens after tests have been in place for 15 minutes.
Areas of your skin that become red and itchy indicate an allergy. Your healthcare provider uses this information to determine what you’re allergic to.
Your healthcare provider may also use a radioallergosorbent blood test (RAST). A RAST checks the levels of allergic antibody to different allergens in your blood. Raised levels of specific antibodies can indicate an allergy.
