1. Food Allergy Triggers & Where They Hide Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Quiz on Allergies
3. 10 Common Allergy Triggers Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• Food allergy facts
• Introduction to food allergies
• How do allergic reactions to food occur?
• What are the symptoms and signs of food allergy?
• Do infants and children have problems with food allergy?
• What are the most common food allergies?
• What is cross-reactivity?
• What is oral allergy syndrome?
• What is exercise-induced food allergy?
• What conditions have mistakenly been attributed to food allergy?
• What conditions mimic food allergy?
• How is food allergy diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for a food allergy?
• Are allergy shots effective for food allergy?
• Pictures of Food Allergy Triggers & Where They Hide - Slideshow
• Take the Quiz on Allergies
• Pictures of 10 Common Allergy Triggers - Slideshow
• Celiac Disease (Celiac Sprue) FAQs
• Patient Comments: Food Allergy - Allergy Shots
• Patient Comments: Food Allergy - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Food Allergy - Describe Your Experience
• Find a local Asthma & Allergy Specialist in your town
• Food Allergy Index

Allergy shots, a form of treatment known as immunotherapy, involve injecting small quantities of substances to which the patient is allergic. The shots are given regularly for a long time with the aim of desensitizing the patient or getting the patient to tolerate the allergen without developing symptoms. This type of therapy is effective in controlling symptoms of allergies related to hay fever, indoor allergens, and insect stings. Researchers, however, have not yet proven that these shots can prevent any allergic reactions to food.

Summary

Food allergy is caused by immune reactions to foods, sometimes in individuals or families predisposed to allergies. A number of foods, especially shellfish, milk, eggs, peanuts, and fruit can cause allergic reactions (notably hives, asthma, abdominal symptoms, lightheadedness, and anaphylaxis) in adults or children. When a food allergy is suspected, a medical evaluation is the key to proper management.

It is important to distinguish a true food allergy from other abnormal responses to food, that is, food intolerances, which actually are far more common than food allergy. Once the diagnosis of food allergy is made (primarily by the medical history) and the allergen is identified (usually by skin tests), the treatment basically is to avoid the offending food. People with food allergies should work with their physicians and become knowledgeable about allergies and how they are diagnosed and treated.

REFERENCES:

Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. <http://www.foodallergy.org/>.

Sicherer, Scott H. "Food Allergies." Medscape.com. Mar. 17, 2011. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/135959-overview>.

U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "Food Allergy." May 3, 2010. <http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodallergy/Pages/default.aspx>.

Young, E., M.D. Stoneham, A. Petruckevitch, J. Barton, and R. Rona. "A Population Study of Food Intolerance." Lancet 343.8906 May 7, 1994: 1127-1130.