Food Allergies

Food Allergies services offered in Hillsborough and Annandale, NJ

Food allergies are stressful because you must monitor what you or your child eat to prevent a life-threatening allergic reaction. At Allergy Asthma & Sinus Center, Edwin Schulhafer, MD, helps you enjoy a safe, healthy life by identifying your food allergens and learning to keep them out of your diet. Don't wait to get help for a food allergy. It's also important to have epinephrine on hand in case you or your child have a life-threatening reaction. To schedule an appointment, call the office in Hillsborough Township or Annandale, New Jersey, or book online today.

What causes food allergies?

Food allergies begin when your immune system identifies a food protein as a harmful substance. Then, every time you consume foods, beverages, or other products containing that protein, you have an allergic reaction.

The top causes of food allergies include:

Peanuts
Tree nuts
Milk
Eggs
Wheat
Fish
Shellfish
Soy

Though many food allergies begin in childhood, you can also develop allergies for the first time as an adult. Children outgrow some food allergies. However, they're less likely to outgrow allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish.

What symptoms do food allergies cause?

Food allergies cause any of the following:

Itchy mouth or ears
Congestion
Runny nose
Wheezing
Hives
Skin rash
Projectile vomiting
Uncontrollable diarrhea

In most cases, the symptoms of a food allergy appear within a few minutes to two hours after you consume the allergen.

Can food allergies cause a life-threatening reaction?

Your food allergy reactions can unpredictably change from mild to severe. Food allergies can also cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.

During anaphylaxis, you rapidly develop symptoms such as:

Nausea
Swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat
Difficulty breathing
Fainting
Hives
Swelling

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention to prevent you from going into shock and potentially dying. You should immediately self-inject epinephrine and call 911.

How are food allergies treated?

The primary treatment is eliminating all sources of the food from your diet. Your Allergy Asthma & Sinus Center provider does allergy testing to confirm the food responsible for your allergies. Then, they help you identify all the possible sources so you can stay away from your allergen.

Your provider also prescribes a self-injecting epinephrine pen and shows you how to use it. That prepares you to stop anaphylaxis from turning into a life-threatening crisis.

Don't wait to get treatment for a possible food allergy. If you or your child experience symptoms, call Allergy Asthma & Sinus Center or book an appointment online today.