This is a fascinating history to food allergies that many may not know. Dr. Daniel Soteres of the Asthma and Allergy Associates includes this interesting history about allergic reactions to food, as well as other helpful treatment option information in this next entry of the Food Allergy Summit of 2014.
Natural History of Food Allergy
- For common food allergens like Egg, Milk, Wheat, and Soy: 80% will outgrow the allergen in 3-5 years.
- For Peanut allergy 20% will outgrow it
Treating a Food Allergy
- Avoid the Food
- Ingredients Ask About
- Read Food Labels
- Emergencies Be prepared
Avoid the food
Ask about ingredients: To avoid eating a “hidden” food allergen away from home, food-allergic individuals must always inquire about ingredients when eating at restaurants or others’ homes.
Read food labels
- Become familiar with technical or scientific names for foods.
- For example, milk may not be listed as an ingredient on a label; casein (a milk protein), sodium caseinate or milk solids.
- Not every food that contains wheat identifies it as such; sometimes wheat is listed as gluten.
- Egg white is frequently listed as albumin.
- As of January 2006 the FDA has improved labeling laws
Be prepared for emergencies
- Anaphylactic reactions are life-threatening.
- Carry and know how to use injectable epinephrine and antihistamines to treat reactions
- Spouses/parents, co-workers, school teachers, school nurses, or daycare workers, should know how to use the epinephrine.
- Wear an identification bracelet that describes the allergy.
Treatments on the Horizon
- Peanut desensitization protocols–OIT, SLIT, EPIT
- Herbal formulations
- Vaccine possibilities: with modified food proteins
- Monoclonal Antibodies: Anti-IgE, Anti-IL5
- Probiotic therapies
If you have any questions about food allergies, or would like to be tested for a food allergy, feel free to contact our friendly staff here at Asthma and Allergy Associates today! We have several locations, including our main off in Colorado Springs, that can help provide you with the information you need! Just give us a call.