Food Allergies

This cow’s milk protein allergy is seen most commonly in younger children. The vast majority of children with this food allergy outgrow it by the time they reach adulthood. Children with this food allergy will develop symptoms as soon as 5 minutes after consuming milk, in some cases.

Symptoms include:

• Stomach swelling
• Vomiting
• Hives

In very rare cases, a patient might develop anaphylaxis as a result of exposure to milk.

An allergy to eggs is the second most common food allergy in children, but given that less than 70 percent of those with an egg allergy will outgrow it, it is often seen in adults, as well.

Symptoms of an egg allergy include:

• Stomachache
• Hives or rash
• Respiratory problems
• Anaphylaxis (rare)

It is important to note that those with an egg allergy may be allergic to the egg white, the egg yolk, or both. An allergy to egg whites is the most common type of egg allergy.

Often confused with nuts, the peanut is actually a legume and a common food allergy trigger. Fifteen to 22 percent of children with a peanut allergy outgrow it by adulthood. Until and unless it has been confirmed that a patient has developed out of a peanut allergy, that patient should avoid any and all consumption of peanut foods or products.

An allergy to tree nuts affects around 1 percent of people. When one has a tree nut allergy, it is recommended that you avoid all tree nuts and seeds, as having one tree nut allergy correlates highly with developing another.

Patients with a tree nut allergy also need to avoid foods made from nuts, such as nut butters, or foods cross-contaminated with nuts. This can make avoiding the allergen quite difficult for some patients. As a result, most patients with a tree nut allergy carry an epipen so that they can self-administer epinephrine if needed.

Shellfish allergies are most commonly caused by the presence of a protein known as tropomyosin in shellfish. Unlike some other food allergies, shellfish allergies do not often go away over time.

Avoiding shellfish, therefore, is necessary throughout life for patients with this allergy. Since the symptoms of shellfish allergy can resemble symptoms related to contaminated seafood, some patients might not be aware that they have a shellfish allergy.

Working in consultation with an allergist is the best way to identify and address a shellfish allergy.

Those with a wheat allergy will have an allergic response to certain proteins in wheat, resulting in a range of symptoms, including:

• Stomachache
• Hives or rash
• Vomiting
• Anaphylaxis (rare)

People often confuse celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity with a wheat allergy. A true wheat allergy is a serious condition, resulting in anaphylaxis, and can be fatal.

While the above are the most common food allergy triggers out there, there are some foods that trigger allergies in more rare cases. Uncommon food allergies can be triggered by red meat, avocado, hot dogs, mango, corn, and even dried fruit.

Anyone who believes a food may be triggering an allergic response should consult with an allergist.