Food Allergy Testing - What to Expect
If you're experiencing symptoms such as hives, face swelling, coughing, diarrhea, or dizziness when eating certain foods, then your doctor may recommend food allergy testing to determine if these symptoms are caused by a food allergy or if they could be from another ailment. There are more than 160 foods that can cause an allergic reaction, but most people find that theirs is related to one of eight foods. These are: wheat, eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, crustacean shellfish, milk, and soybeans.
The physician will usually start your food allergy testing by asking about your history of symptoms - what symptoms you have experienced, how severe they were, and what foods you had eaten or come into contact with before the reactions - as well as whether or not your family has a history of food allergies. Next, you may be asked to keep a food diary to record your daily intake and any symptoms you may feel after ingesting certain foods. Your doctor might also suggest an elimination diet, which consists of you removing some foods from your diet for a couple of weeks and then reintroducing them to see if you have any reactions.
The next phase of your food allergy testing might be laboratory tests to determine if you're suffering from a true food allergy, or if you have some other kind of food intolerance. The tests include:
- Skin test - with this test, your doctor will apply extracts of certain foods to your forearm or back and then prick your skin with a needle so a small amount of the solution can seep into your skin. You will experience a reaction such as a bump if you are allergic to the food. Alternatively, he or she may inject the solution into your skin, or even simply tape a pad containing the allergen extract to your skin, depending on what type of symptoms you have.
- Blood test - your doctor will take a blood sample to check the amount of immunoglobulin E antibodies that your immune system is sending into your bloodstream when you consume certain foods.
Allergic reactions to food can range from minor and uncomfortable to severe and life threatening. Regardless of the severity of your symptoms, food allergy testing is important. That's because mild symptoms can progress into major complications such as anaphylaxis, which causes constriction of the airways in your lungs, anaphylactic shock, and suffocation from swelling of the throat. Roughly 30,000 emergency room visits result from anaphylaxis attacks every year.
Food allergy testing could potentially save your life. Consult your doctor or allergist today.
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