What Is A Food Allergy?
A food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly responds to certain foods that it thinks are harmful. Our immune systems defends and protects us from foreign invaders like certain viruses and bacteria.
Food allergies occur when the immune system over-defends and treats certain proteins in foods as foreign invaders. These proteins are called allergens and our immune systems makes special allergy antibodies called IgE antibodies to these allergens to help fight them off. These antibodies trigger a reaction each time a person eats a food they are allergic to.
Symptoms Of A Food Allergic Reaction
A food allergic reaction can lead to symptoms like hives, swelling of lips/tongue, stomach upset, breathing problems, and other symptoms. In babies, hives and vomiting are the most common symptoms of a food allergic reaction. These symptoms usually occur within seconds to minutes and almost always within 2 hours. In addition, one reaction can vary widely from the next in the same person. Food allergies are most common in children, but a food allergy can occur at any age.
But research shows that severe allergic reactions are extremely rare under the age of one.
Food Allergic Reactions: Common Symptoms
Skin
Redness, itching, hives, red bumps, swelling beneath skin
Eyes
Itching, tearing, redness, swelling around eyes
Respiratory
Nasal congestion, itching, runny nose, sneezing, swelling of voice box, hoarseness, cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing
Mouth
Swelling of lips, tongue, or palate, itching in the mouth
Gastrointestinal
Nausea, colicky abdominal pain, reflux, vomiting, diarrhea
Cardiovascular
Rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, loss of consciousness
What is anaphylaxis?
When the symptoms are severe and involving more than one organ system, it’s classified as anaphylaxis, and this can be life-threatening.
Types of Food Allergies
IgE-mediated v. Non-IgE mediated food allergy
Food allergies can be divided into two main categories: IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated food allergies. Both categories of allergies involve the immune system, but each presents in different ways. IgE-mediated food allergies are food allergies responsible for the more “traditional” allergic reactions that people usually associate with food allergies.
Non-IgE mediated food allergies also involve the immune system, but they don’t involve IgE antibodies. These allergies are different from the more “traditional” IgE food allergies, as symptoms of a non-IgE-mediated food allergy can take up to 72 hours to appear. Common symptoms of non-IgE-mediated food allergies in babies include:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Stomach pain
Classification of Food Allergy
Food Hypersensitivity
Non-Allergic Food Intolerances
Food Allergy
Non-IgE Mediated Food Allergy
IgE-Mediated Food Allergy
Top 9 Allergens
These foods (or food groups) are responsible for the most common food allergies
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![Milk image]()
Milk
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![Egg image]()
Egg
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![Peanut image]()
Peanut
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![Wheat image]()
Wheat
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![Soy image]()
Soy
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![Walnuts image]()
Tree Nut
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![Shrimp image]()
Shellfish
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![Salmon image]()
Fish
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![Sesame Seed image]()
Sesame
