Food Allergy
What Is Food Allergy?
Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by your body's immune system.
- Itching in your mouth and/or swelling of the lips
- Vomiting, diarrhea or cramps
- Hives or some other form of rash
- Tightening of the throat and trouble breathing
- Drop in blood pressure
What Causes Food Allergy?
In adults, the foods that most often trigger allergic reactions include:
- Fish and shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster and crab
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts, such as walnuts
- Eggs
Problem foods for children are eggs, milk (especially in infants and young children) and peanuts.
How Is It Treated?
There is currently no cure for food allergies, and available treatments only ease the symptoms. There are no drugs or treatments available that prevent food allergies. If you have food allergies, the only way to avoid allergic reactions is to avoid allergenic foods. After you and your health care professional have identified the food(s) to which you are sensitive, you must remove them from your diet.