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Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Food allergies happen when the body’s immune system mistakes a food for something bad and attacks it. This causes symptoms of an allergic reaction, which can be life-threatening. Symptoms can appear within minutes after eating the food or delayed for up to 2 hours after eating.
Food intolerance is not the same thing as a food allergy. It does not involve the immune system and is not life-threatening. A common example is lactose intolerance (trouble digesting milk sugar).
Mild symptoms may include:
Red, itchy skin (hives)
Upset stomach
Tingling or itching of the mouth and lips
Stuffy, itchy nose, sneezing (rare)
Red, itchy, watery eyes (rare)
Mild symptoms should be treated with an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) or cetirizine (Zyrtec®) as soon as you can.
Anaphylaxis (an-a-fl-LAK-sis) is a more serious and severe allergic reaction. It starts quickly and can cause death.
More severe symptoms include:
Vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea (loose stools)
Hoarse voice, tight throat or feeling like there is a lump in your throat
Wheezing, chest tightness or trouble breathing
Hives or drooling in younger children
The feeling that something bad is happening
Fainting
Severe symptoms are treated with a shot of epinephrine or an EpiPen®. If an EpiPen® is used, the person must be taken to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
A doctor will review the history of symptoms and may do allergy testing. The doctor may diagnose a food allergy if there is a history of having a reaction when eating a certain food and there is a positive allergy test result.
At your visit, you may be asked:
Which foods were eaten?
What were the symptoms after eating the food?
How soon after eating the food did the symptoms start?
How long did the symptoms last?
How were the symptoms treated?
Has this happened before?
What happened other times this food was eaten?
Tests may involve a skin prick or blood test. The skin prick test can be done in the clinic. Results are ready within 15 minutes. The blood test measures the level of the allergic protein or IgE. Blood test results take longer (about 1 week).
By law, food manufacturers must label major top 8 allergens. Food labels must show the major allergen in a “contains” statement or in the ingredient list of the food. Sesame is now the 9th major allergen and must be added to labels by January 1, 2023. The top major allergens include:
Milk
Soy
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Egg
Soy
Wheat
Fish
Sesame (1/1/2023)
Shellfish
Some labels may include "may contain" or "made on shared equipment" statements. These statements are not required by law. Random tests of products with these labels have found results that range from “none” to “higher amounts” that could cause an allergic reaction. We suggest that you avoid these foods.
Cross-contamination happens when other food(s) may come in contact with a food allergen or any food you need to avoid. This can be a problem for people with food allergies.
It can be stressful to dine out when you have a food allergy. Call ahead or eat at places that cater to food allergies. Some larger and chain restaurants train their staff how to handle food safely. They may also offer a lot of safe food options. There are phone apps such as Spokin and Allergy Eats that can suggest safe places to eat.
In some cases, yes. In high-risk infants, early introduction of peanuts may prevent peanut allergy. Contact your allergist with questions about this.
No. Not eating foods you are allergic to while pregnant or breastfeeding will not prevent your child from having food allergies.
No. Waiting longer than 4 to 6 months of age to start solid foods will not prevent food allergies. Infants should begin with solid foods like fruits and vegetables. Then, parents can begin giving all foods, waiting a few days in between each new food to make sure they are tolerating the food. This includes foods that contain milk protein like yogurt, eggs, peanut, tree nuts, soy or wheat.
No, using soy milk formula will not prevent food allergies.
No. There is no treatment for an existing allergy. The only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid the food you are allergic to.
Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) –
www.foodallergy.org
This provides information for schools, daycares, webinars for parents, research, and traveling.
Kids with Food Allergies - www.kidswithfoodallergies.org
This is great for those with a new allergy. It has great recipes, webinars and other information.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) -www.aaaai.org
Food Allergy Counselor -www.foodallergycounselor.com
This is a great website to learn about strategies, support and behavioral health.
Allermates : www.allermates.com
Lauren’s Hope: www.laurenshope.com
Medicalert :
Amazon also has many products, including bracelets, books and labels: www.amazon.com
Always read labels first as things may change.
Almonds - Barney Butter, Wonderful Brand Almonds(pistachios are made in a separate facility)
Cashews - Sunshine Nut Company
Pistachios - Wonderful Brand(almonds are made in a separate facility)
Walnuts - Daniel’s Farm and Derby Walnuts
Hazelnut - Nutella (contains milk)
Pecans - Pearson Farm
Peanut Butter - Skippy, Jif, Santa Cruz Organic, Smucker’s, Trader Joe’s