Those who have food allergies and family members often have many questions to ask the doctor or dietician regarding avoiding food allergies, and the cause of food allergies as well as questions related to other family members getting food allergies. Your doctor is the best source of answers to all of your food allergy questions. Here is a sampling of some of the answers you may receive regarding your questions about food allergies.

Can I develop a food allergy later in life?

Answer: A food allergy can actually develop at any time in life, even after an individual has been eating a food without a reaction to it in the past. Any symptom that is experienced should not be ignored but medically investigated.

What symptoms of food allergies should I watch out for?

Answer: The following are common symptoms associated with food allergies - itchy skin, rash or hives, skin swelling, eczema. Swelling of the lips, or tongue. An itchiness of the throat, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and also diarrhea. The individual may also experience watery, itchy eyes, runny or stuffy nose, dry or staccato cough, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, which may include wheezing.

What is Anaphylaxis?

Answer: This is a word used to describe a severe allergic reaction that can be fatal if emergency care is not given immediately. The severe reaction usually includes a sudden drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and death.

Can I prevent a reaction to food?

Answer: The best way to prevent a food allergic reaction is to avoid the food that you are allergic to. Always read food labels carefully and each time you purchase a food item, because manufacturers change ingredients and something that may not have contained what you are allergic to may someday have that ingredient in it if the food recipe is changed.

What is the treatment of a severe food allergic reaction?

Answer: Epinephrine, which is also referred to as adrenaline, is the medicine most often given for severe allergic reactions. It is the medicine contained in EpiPen, an auto injector. If the individual is having a mild allergic reaction antihistamines are than usually prescribed.

What kind of testing might my doctor do to determine if a family member or I have a food allergy?

Answer: A common test to determine food allergy is the skin prick test. A blood test called a RAST blood test is sometimes ordered. Once a positive result of one of these tests is obtained, a food challenge test is usually ordered to confirm the food allergy results.

When should food allergy tests be conducted (age)?

Answer: Anytime someone has a suspected symptom or symptoms of a food allergy they should be tested no matter how young or old.

Will children outgrow food allergies?

Answer: Children are known to outgrow food allergies. Most of them can outgrow allergies to milk, egg, soy or wheat by the time they turn five years of age. Typically allergies to peanut or tree nut (walnuts and pecans) are lifelong allergies.