Was It Something You Ate?
Food Allergies and Intolerances
 Food allergies are often confused with food intolerances, the inability
of a person to digest a type of food properly. A true allergic reaction to
a food involves the immune system, whereas a food intolerance usually
involves the digestive system.
Food Intolerances
Nearly everyone has experienced symptoms of a food intolerance, which
include vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The most common is lactose
intolerance, which affects one out of every 10 people in the United
States.
Food Allergies
Up to seven percent of children and one percent of adults have a food allergy.
The most common allergies for adults are shellfish, peanuts, fish and
eggs. For children, the most common allergies are to milk, soy products,
peanuts and shellfish. Children may outgrow a food allergy, but adults
usually do not.
Symptoms of a food allergy may include:
- Itchy skin
- Rashes
- Hives
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Swelling of the respiratory passages
- Unconsciousness
If you experience these symptoms you should seek immediate emergency
medical treatment.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and the amount of food needed
to cause a reaction varies. For example, for people with a severe allergy
to peanuts, it only takes .00002 of a peanut kernel to trigger a reaction.
If you suspect a food allergy, you should contact your
physician, who can rule out other causes and outline related foods that
you may also be allergic to. Food allergies and intolerances are different
from food poisoning, which usually results from tainted food and affects
more than one person at a single meal.
Diagnosing and treating a food allergy or
intolerance 
Other allergy articles | Back
|
