Food Allergy Center - Billerica, MA
Billerica Asthma & Allergy Specialist Doctors for Food AllergyType of Physician: Asthma & Allergy Specialist What is a Asthma & Allergy Specialist? A certification by the Board of Allergy & Immunology; practitioners are expert in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of immune disorders. Specialty: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Common Name: Allergy Doctor Asthma & Allergy Specialist Doctors in Billerica * Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Specialties Department Division of Allergy  Lahey Burlington Allergy & Immunology  Lahey Burlington Allergy & Immunology  Lahey Burlington Allergy & Immunology  Lahey Burlington Allergy & Immunology  Allergy & Asthma Specialists PC  Allergy & Asthma Specialists PC  Allergy & Asthma Specialists PC  Allergy & Asthma Specialists PC  Backbay Allergy Associates  Niranjan Dudani MD  Chi Shang Wang MD  New England Allergy & Immunology  Asthma & Allergy Affiliates  Asthma & Allergy Affiliates  Asthma & Allergy Affiliates  Daniel J Muppidi MD  Allergy & Asthma Specialists PC  Gary P Gurka MD  Joel Bleier MD  Triphon Vlagopoulos MD  Beer & Vernovsky MDs  Allergy and Asthma Associates  Allergy & Immunology Clinic  Brighams & Womens Hospital Allergy & Immunology  Allergy & Asthma Center  Allergy & Asthma Center  Boris Balson MD PC  Backbay Allergy Associates  Lynda G Kabbash MD  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Peter F Weller MD  Children's Hospital Boston Allergy Immunology Dermatology Rheumatology  Brigham & Women's Hospital Center for Chest Diseases  Brigham & Women's Hospital Center for Chest Diseases  Allergy Associates at MGH  Allergy Associates at MGH  MGH Allergy & Immunology  Allergy Associates at MGH  Allergy Associates at MGH  Allergy Associates at MGH  MGH Allergy & Immunology  Allergy Associates at MGH  Allergy Associates at MGH  Allergy Associates at MGH  Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Dermatology Allergy & Immunology  NEMC Pediatric Pulmonology & Allergies  Boston University Medical Group  Dedham Medical Associates  Southboro Medical Group Framingham  Stuart Rhein MD  Asthma & Allergy Affiliates  AASP Allergy & Asthma Specialty Physicians PC  AASP Allergy & Asthma Specialty Physicians PC  AASP Allergy & Asthma Specialty Physicians PC  MGH Pediatric Pulmonology  Professional Allergy Associates  South Shore Allergy & Asthma Specialists PC  Asthma & Allergy Physicians LLC  Asthma & Allergy Physicians LLC  Lung Allergy & Sleep Specialists  Asthma & Allergy Physicians LLC  South Shore Medical Center  Allergy & Asthma Care PC  Central Mass Allergy & Asthma Care  Central Mass Allergy & Asthma Care  Central Mass Allergy & Asthma Care  Central Mass Allergy & Asthma Care  Ronald Dorris MD  ENT Associates of Worcester Inc  ENT Associates of Worcester Inc  Pediatrics Associates of Fall River Inc  Allergy & Asthma Associates South  Allergy Associates  Allergy Associates  Allergy Associates  Allergy Associates  Allergy Associates  Allergy & Asthma Center  Allergy & Asthma Center  James Cavanaugh MD  Northampton Wellness Associates LLC  Northampton Wellness Associates LLC  Northampton Wellness Associates LLC  Keenan, Malladi & O'Neill PC  Keenan, Malladi & O'Neill PC Billerica, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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Food AllergyRead the Food Allergy article » Introduction to food allergiesEither food allergy or food intolerance affects nearly everyone at some point. When people have an unpleasant reaction to something they ate, they often think that they have an allergy to the food. Actually, however, only up to 3% of adults and 6%-8% of children have clinically proven true allergic reactions to food. This difference between the prevalence of clinically proven food allergy and the public's perception of the problem is due primarily to misinterpreting food intolerance or other adverse food reactions to food as food allergy. A true food allergy is an abnormal response to food that is triggered by a specific reaction in the immune system and expressed by certain, often characteristic, symptoms. Other kinds of reactions to foods that are not food allergies include food intolerances (such as lactose or milk intolerance), food poisoning, and toxic reactions. Food intolerance also is an abnormal response to food, and its symptoms can resemble those of food allergy. Food intolerance, however, is far more prevalent, occurs in a variety of diseases, and is triggered by several different mechanisms that are distinct from the immunological reaction responsible for food allergy. People who have food allergies must identify and prevent them because, although usually mild and not severe, these reactions can cause devastating illness and, in rare instances, can be fatal.
How do allergic reactions to food occur?The allergens in food are those components that are responsible for inciting an allergic reaction. They are proteins that usually resist the heat of cooking, the acid in the stomach, and the intestinal digestive enzymes. As a result, the allergens survive to cross the gastrointestinal lining, enter the bloodstream, and go to target organs, causing allergic reactions throughout the body. The mechanism of food allergy involves the immune system... Recommended Reading Related to Food AllergyWhat is eczema?Eczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation (dermatitis). The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis (sometimes these two terms are used interchangeably). However, there are many different forms of eczema. Eczema can affect people of any age, although the condition is most common in infants, and about 85% of those affected have an onset prior to 5 years of age. Eczema will permanently resolve by age 3 in about half of affected infants. In others, the condition tends to recur throughout life. People with eczema often have a family history of the condition or a family history of other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever. The nature of the link between these conditions is inadequately understood. Up to 20% of children and 1%-2% of adults are believed to have eczema. Eczema is slightly more common in girls than in boys. It occurs in people of all races. Eczema is not contagious, but since it is b... Other Related Food Allergy ArticlesEmergency Contact for Billerica
Nearby Billerica Hospitals *Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Tewksbury Hospital Lahey Clinic Medical Center Saints Medical Center HC Solomon Mental Health Center Lowell General Hospital Emerson Hospital HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Isham Health Center Winchester Hospital McLean Hospital Lawrence General Hospital Lawrence Memorial Hospital Melrose Wakefield Hospital Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center Somerville Hospital Mount Auburn Hospital Northeast Rehabilitation Health Network North Shore Medical Center Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Cambridge Hospital Whidden Memorial Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children Newton Wellesley Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston Nashoba Valley Medical Center Arbour HRI Hospital Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital M I T Medical Baldpate Hospital Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Southern New Hampshire Medical Center Children's Hospital Boston Dana Farber Cancer Institute Brigham & Women's Hospital St Joseph Hospital Tufts New England Medical Center New England Baptist Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Merrimack Valley Hospital Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Haverhill Boston Medical Center Salem Hospital & the Birthplace Arbour Hospital North Shore Children's Hospital Radius Specialty Hospital Boston Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital Bournewood Hospital Faulkner Hospital Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Beverly Hospital Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Massachusetts Mental Health Center VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital Caritas Carney Hospital Hampstead Hospital Parkland Medical Center Milton Hospital UMass Memorial Clinton Hospital Westwood Lodge Hospital Quincy Medical Center Westborough State Hospital Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough HealthAlliance Hospital Leominster Campus Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Food Allergy by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
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Eczema
- Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a general term for many types of skin inflammation. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis. The other forms of eczema include: contact eczema, seborrheic eczema, Nummular eczema, Neurodermatitis, stasis dermatitis, and dyshidrotic eczema. Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of eczema may vary from person to person and may depend on the type of eczema.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue around the joints, as well as other organs in the body. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
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Diarrhea
- Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
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Hives
- Hives, also called urticaria, is a raised, itchy area of skin that is usually a sign of an allergic reaction. The allergy may be to food or medications, but usually the cause of the allergy (the allergen) is unknown.
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Migraine
- Migraine is usually periodic attacks of headaches on one or both sides of the head. These may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light (photophobia), increased sensitivity to sound (phonophobia), dizziness, blurred vision, cognitive disturbances, and other symptoms. Treatments for migraine headache include therapies that may or may not involve medications.
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Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints. Also known as degenerative arthritis. Osteoarthritis can be caused by aging, heredity, and injury from trauma or disease.
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Lactose Intolerance
- In lactose intolerance, the digestive system cannot digest lactose (the main sugar in milk). Symptoms of lactose intolerance include diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, abdominal distention, and nausea. There are several tests to diagnose lactose intolerance. Treatment is generally made with dietary changes, supplements, and adaptation to small amounts of milk.
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Itching
- Itching can be a common problem. Itches can be localized or generalized. There are many causes of itching to include: infection (jock itch, vaginal itch), disease (hyperthyroidism, liver or kidney), reactions to drugs, and skin infestations (pubic or body lice). Treatment for itching varies depending on the cause of the itch.
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Celiac Disease
- Celiac disease is a result of an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat or related grains and present in many foods that we eat. Celiac disease causes impaired absorption and digestion of nutrients through the small intestine. Signs and symptoms of celiac disease include malabsorbption (diarrhea, foul smelling gas, bloating, and increased amounts of fat in the stool) and malnutrition (weight loss, edema, anemia, bruising easily, neuropathy, and infertility). Treatment for celiac disease is a gluten free diet, and at times if necessary, medications
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Allergy
- An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to it. It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions. The parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies include the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common allergic disorders include hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives, and allergic shock.
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Nausea and Vomiting
- Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. The causes of vomiting differ according to age, and treatment depends upon the cause of nausea and vomiting.
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Colic in Babies
- Colic is crying or fussing that begins suddenly, lasting for a total of three hours a day and happening more than three days a week for about three weeks. Symptoms include the baby's face turning red, the belly is distended, the feet may be cold, the hands clenched, and the legs may alternate between being flexed or extended. Treatment may involve ruling out other causes of the fussing and the doctor prescribing anti-gas bubbly medicine.
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Asthma
- Asthma is a common disorder in which chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough and wheezing.
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Food Poisoning
- Food poisoning is common, but can also be life threatening. The most common form of food poisoning is caused by bacteria and include symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
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Anaphylaxis
- Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that affects a number of different areas of the body at one time, and can be fatal. Causes of anaphylaxis can be food allergy, latex allergy, allergy to insect or but stings/bites, asthma, or other materials or conditions. Symptoms include flushing, itching, hives, anxiety, rapid or irregular pulse. Severe symptoms may be throat and tongue swelling, swallowing, and difficulty breathing. Some disorders appear similar to anaphylaxis such as fainting, panic attacks, blood clots in the lungs, heart attacks, and septic shock. If you think that you may be having an anaphylactic reaction, seek emergency care or call 911 immedately.
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Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding
- It's important to know whether you will breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby prior to delivery, as the breasts' ability to produce milk diminishes soon after childbirth without the stimulation of breastfeeding. Breast milk is easily digested by babies and contains infection-fighting antibodies and cholesterol, which promotes brain growth. Formula-fed babies actually need to eat somewhat less often since formula is less readily digested by the baby than human milk. This article explores the advantages and disadvantages of both forms of feeding.
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Occupational Asthma
- Occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by exposure to a substance in the workplace. Symptoms and signs include wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. The usual treatment for occupational asthma involves removal from exposure and the use of bronchodilators and inhaled anti-inflammatory medicines.
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Abdominal Pain
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Medications
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Procedures & Tests
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Pictures, Images & Quizzes
6 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
5 articles -
Health News
18 articles -
Health Features
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