I’m An Adult With A Food Allergy
A food allergy can develop at any time in a person’s life. Adults too may find themselves developing food allergies. The process is not clear as to why or how this is done.
Food allergies occur most often in children, but can also appear at any given age and can be caused by foods that were previously eaten and enjoyed without any problems. Excessive exposure to a particular food may also affect the overall rate of allergy to that food, as seen in the Scandinavians who consume fish and the Japanese who eat a large quantity of rice.
Heredity seems to be the primary reason some people have allergies and other people don’t. If both parents had allergies, you have approximately a 75% chance of being allergic as well. If one parent is allergic, you have relatives on one side with allergies; you have a 30 to 40 % chance of developing some form of allergy. If neither parent had an apparent allergy, the chance is 10 to 15 percent.
Once the diagnosis of a food allergy is confirmed, the most effective treatment is not eating the offending food in any form. The patient must be vigilant in checking labels on food products and learning other names of identification of the responsible food or food additive to make sure it is not present.
When eating in a restaurant, be particularly careful and take emergency medicines with you if you have a history of severe reactions. Waiters aren’t always aware of the exact ingredients of each item on the menu.
In some cases of adult food allergies, strict adherence to an elimination diet appears to promote the process of outgrowing the food allergy. The vast majority of patients with documented allergic reactions to eggs, cow’s milk, and soy eventually become tolerant to these foods. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish, however last a lifetime and are not outgrown.
Approximately one-third of children and adults will eventually be free of their allergic reactions to foods after closely following appropriate diets free of the offensive food allergens.
After you have eliminated foods responsible for your allergic reactions for a period of at least six months, your allergist may recommend that you undergo an oral food challenge under observation to reassess your symptoms. If you have no reaction, then you will be able to reintroduce this food into your diet. If any symptoms do occur, however; the dietary restriction will be continued.
Tags: Alternative Medicine