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- Diabetes and Pregnancy
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- Diabetes Medicines
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- How to Prevent Diabetes
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- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
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- Triglycerides
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- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
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- Stuttering
Food Allergy
Summary
Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by your body’s immune system.
In adults, the foods that most often trigger allergic reactions include fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts, such as walnuts. Problem foods for children can include eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat.
The allergic reaction may be mild. In rare cases it can cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of food allergy include:
- Itching or swelling in your mouth
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps and pain
- Hives or eczema
- Tightening of the throat and trouble breathing
- Drop in blood pressure
Your health care provider may use a detailed history, elimination diet, and skin and blood tests to diagnose a food allergy.
When you have food allergies, you must be prepared to treat an accidental exposure. Wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace, and carry an auto-injector device containing epinephrine (adrenaline).
You can only prevent the symptoms of food allergy by avoiding the food. After you and your health care provider have identified the foods to which you are sensitive, you must remove them from your diet.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Children
- Allergies and Hyperactivity (and sugar) American Academy of Pediatrics
- Asthma and Food Allergies American Academy of Pediatrics
- Dairy-Free Diet (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Food Allergies Nemours Foundation
- Infant Allergies and Food Sensitivities American Academy of Pediatrics
- Making Sure Kids Are Prepared if They Need Epinephrine Treatments in School Food and Drug Administration
- Milk Allergy in Infants Nemours Foundation
- Nut and Peanut Allergy Nemours Foundation
- Tree Nut Allergy Nemours Foundation
- Tree Nut Allergy (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
Diagnosis and Tests
- Allergy Blood Test National Library of Medicine
- Food Allergy Testing National Library of Medicine
- Reasons to Do Food Challenges National Jewish Health
Patient Handouts
- Allergy testing – skin Medical Encyclopedia
- Anaphylaxis Medical Encyclopedia
- Food allergy Medical Encyclopedia
Living With
- Avoiding Cross-Contact Food Allergy Research & Education
- Dining Out Food Allergy Research & Education
- Have Food Allergies? Read the Label Food and Drug Administration
- Living with Food Allergies Food Allergy Research & Education
- Managing Food Allergies at College Food Allergy Research & Education
- Taking Care of Yourself Food Allergy Research & Education
- Tips for Keeping Safe at Home Food Allergy Research & Education
- Traveling with Food Allergies Food Allergy Research & Education
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Egg Hypersensitivity National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Food Hypersensitivity National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Milk Hypersensitivity National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Nut Hypersensitivity National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Peanut Hypersensitivity National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Wheat Hypersensitivity National Institutes of Health
NIH MedlinePlus Magazine
- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: Food Allergy Sufferer Lives a Cautious but Normal Life
- Food Allergy 101
- Understanding Food Allergy
Teenagers
- Egg Allergy Nemours Foundation
- Food Allergies Nemours Foundation
- Food Allergies at School Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Milk Allergy Nemours Foundation
- Nut and Peanut Allergy Nemours Foundation
- Tree Nut Allergy Nemours Foundation
Specifics
- Egg Allergy Nemours Foundation
- Fish Allergy Food Allergy Research & Education
- Fish Allergy Nemours Foundation
- Milk Allergy Food Allergy Research & Education
- Milk Allergy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Peanut Allergy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Peanut Allergy Food Allergy Research & Education
- Shellfish Allergy Food Allergy Research & Education
- Shellfish Allergy Nemours Foundation
- Soy Allergy Food Allergy Research & Education
- Tree Nut Allergy Food Allergy Research & Education
- Wheat Allergy Food Allergy Research & Education
- Wheat Allergy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Related Issues
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Food Intolerance vs. Food Allergy: What’s the Difference? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Statistics and Research
- Facts and Statistics about Food Allergies Food Allergy Research & Education
- Food Allergy National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- Understanding Food Allergies: How to Prevent Peanut Allergy and More National Institutes of Health
Find an Expert
- Find an Allergist/Immunologist American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Start Here
- Food Allergies American Academy of Family Physicians
- Food Allergy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Food Allergy American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
- Food Allergy 101 — Basics of Food Allergies Food Allergy Research & Education
- Food Allergy: Tips to Remember American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Videos and Tutorials
- Histamine: The Stuff Allergies are Made of National Library of Medicine
Journal Articles
Treatments and Therapies
- Recognizing and Treating Reaction Symptoms Food Allergy Research & Education