Testing for Food Allergies

Food Allergy Testing Jacksonville

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About Food Allergy Testing & Diagnosis

A food allergy occurs when the body mistakes a particular food protein as being potentially harmful to the body and responds with a full-on attack. Resulting food allergy symptoms can range from mild itching, swelling, rashes and hives to severe anaphylactic reactions that include wheezing, labored breathing, swelling of the tongue and throat, dizziness, mental confusion, abdominal cramps, vomiting, blood pressure drop, unconsciousness and – rarely but possibly – death. Food allergy symptoms typically occur between two minutes and two hours after a food allergy sufferer has eaten, touched or even breathed in tiny particles of a food allergen.

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    What is Food

    Allergy Testing?

Food allergy testing involves a skin prick test or blood test for food allergies to detect IgE antibodies, which the body’s immune system creates to protect against food proteins it believes are harmful. When an antibody recognizes a certain food allergen, it triggers the body’s release of several combative chemicals including histamine into the bloodstream. This release is what brings on food allergy symptoms.

The presence of IgE antibodies can’t predict a food allergy reaction, so results are combined with information that your allergist will request, such as your history of suspected food allergy symptoms and the results of a food elimination diet and food challenge test. A food elimination diet involves removing suspected foods or ingredients from your diet and watching to so see if your symptoms disappear. A controlled food challenge often is a double-blind, placebo-controlled test in which your doctor will give you small amount of a suspected food and monitor for food allergy symptoms. The most common food allergies are to:

 

These account for 90 percent of all food allergy reactions in the U.S. However, it is possible to be allergic to any food.

Once a food allergy is confirmed, your doctor will advise you to strictly avoid that particular food or ingredient. You’ll need to check food labels, talk with restaurant wait staff or chefs or call food manufacturers if you’re unsure whether a particular meal or product contains the allergen. Many children outgrow common food allergies, but there is no cure. You will also be prescribed injectable epinephrine to be utilized in the case of a severe allergic reaction to incidental ingestion of the food.

If you suspect a food allergy in your family, call Allergy & Asthma Specialists of North Florida today.

Our allergy and asthma clinics are conveniently located near you — we can schedule an appointment at one of our four Jacksonville, FL area locations.

Food Allergy & Food Allergy Testing FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

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