Family Doctor 2008

kids & teens FOOD ALLERGIES Food allergies: The facts How common are food allergies? Is lactose intolerance the same thing as being allergic to milk? Sort out the truth from the myths. By Ashley White It makes antibodies, which ﬁght bacteria and germs that can make you sick. A food allergy is a reaction triggered by the immune system when you eat a certain food. Your body mistakenly thinks the food is harmful and produces antibodies to “ﬁght” it. An allergic reaction can cause tingling in the mouth, tightness in the throat, a runny nose, swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat, hives or itchy skin, wheezing or trouble breathing, stomach pain and vomiting. A food intolerance does not involve a reaction by the immune system. Instead, it means unpleasant symptoms triggered by a certain food. F ood allergy and food intolerance are different. Your immune system is the part of your body that ﬁghts infection. Fact or ﬁction Myth 1: Food allergy is very common. Fact: Studies show that only 6% of children and 2% of adults have an actual food allergy. Far more people have a food intolerance. If you have a serious food allergy, your doctor may prescribe a medicine containing adrenaline (epinephrine) in case of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. Epinephrine comes in a self-injection pen that you should carry with you at all times. Myth 2: People who have food allergies are allergic to many diﬀerent foods. gies are allergic to less than 4 foods. Fact: Most people who have food aller- Better safe than sorry Once a true food allergy is diagnosed, you Myth 3: A food allergy is not dangerous. should avoid the food that caused it. Make sure to read the ingredient list on all food labels. Ask about all the ingredients of food that someone else has prepared. If your child has food allergies, give the school, and other caretakers, instructions that list what foods to avoid and what to do if the food is accidentally eaten. Ashley White is an associate editor with the American Academy of Family Physicians headquartered in Leawood, Kan. Fact: A food allergy can be very What’s lactose intolerance? dangerous when it causes anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe allergic reaction that can cause a drop in blood pressure, the narrowing of airways and dizziness. It can be life threatening and requires immediate medical treatment. Make sure friends and family members know what to do for you if you have an allergic reaction. A person who has lactose intolerance doesn’t have the ability to digest the sugar in milk. Drinking milk or consuming milk products causes symptoms such as gas, bloating, stomach pain and diarrhea. Common allergens Although people can be allergic to any kind of food, most food allergies are caused by peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts and pecans), cow’s milk, eggs, soy, wheat, ﬁsh and shellﬁsh (such as shrimp and lobster). Children usually outgrow allergies to milk, eggs, soy and wheat. However, allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, ﬁsh or shellﬁsh often last a lifetime. 120 familydoctor 2008 Your family doctor can help ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/340.xml KidsHealth http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/ food_allergies.html Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-allergy/ DS00082 Contact your doctor if you think you have a food allergy. He or she can help ﬁnd out if you have a true food allergy or an intolerance. A food allergy cannot be treated or cured, but knowing what foods to avoid can help prevent an allergic reaction. © WWW.123RF.COM http://familydoctor.org/340.xml http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/food_allergies.html http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-allergy/DS00082

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Family Doctor 2008

Family Doctor 2008 Foreward Introduction Contents What Do You Want From Health Care? Confident Communication Need a New Doctor? Understanding Your Health Insurance OTC Safety as Simple as 1-2-3 The Fight Against Resistance Drug Interactions Prevention is Better than Cure Hitting a Home Run 'The Herbalist Will See You Now' Healthy Eating to Boost Your Heart and Health Exercise: The Elixir of Life Back from the Brink Taking Control Up All Night Vitamins and Minerals 101 Allergies: Combating the Causes Protect Yourself From Colds and the Flu Diabetes: Assessing Your Risk Dealing with Diabetes The Cholesterol Count Getting a Grip on Hypertension Facts About CKD Banish the Burn Easing the Pain Stop the Pounding Urinary Tract Infections: Common and Preventable Skin Essentials The ABCs of COPD Impotence: Tackling the Old Taboo Taking Responsibility for Your Health Prostate Cancer Screening: Is it For You? Protecting Your Prostate Heart Disease and Women: Know the Risks Birth Control to Suit You Maneuvering Through Menopause Help for PMS Infertility: Problems Having a Baby Preventive Health: What Women Need to Know Pregnancy: Taking Care of You and Your Baby Eating for Two Postpartum Mood Disorders The Basics of Breast Milk Newborn Screening Tests: Possible Lifesavers Common Newborn Conditions Childhood Vaccines: Why They're Necessary Food Allergies: The Facts Facing Your Acne Raising Grades Staying On Your Feet Age Gracefully: Take Care of Your Bones Battling Osteoarthritis Tackling Anxiety Beating the Blues

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