by Molly Carter

Created on: August 24, 2007

Although food allergies are common among children, 80% of children outgrow their food allergies by six years of age. Only about 2% of the adult population has a food allergy. The most common adult food allergies are nuts, shellfish, eggs, soy, milk, and fish. There is a difference between being lactose intolerance, which is lacking the enzyme to digest the sugars in milk, and being allergic. A food allergy is defined as your body's immune system over reacting to a food you eat.

Some common allergic reactions can include rash, hives, watery eyes, runny nose, an itchy or tingling mouth, swelling, coughing, trouble breathing, a metallic taste in your mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, asthma, or fainting. If you have a mild reaction assess what food's cause these symptoms. In case of a life threatening reaction seek medical help immediately. Swelling of the mouth and throat can lead to suffocation, and a sudden drop in blood pressure can have serious consequences.

Once diagnosed with a food allergy, the best method to avoid flare ups is to avoid the food in question. Careful analyzing of any boxed or prepackaged food is a necessity. If you or a loved one has a severe allergy it may be advisable to speak with a health care professional who can provide you with a medicine called epinephrine, which is a self injected medicine that can save your life.

Sources:
www.familydoctor.org

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