Common Food Allergi

What are some common food allergies?

According to the CDC, 1 in 13 children are affected with food allergies. Some of the most common groups of food allergies include: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts. There is no cure for food allergies, however, there are ways to recognize allergic reactions to protect your child and potentially save their life.

What are signs of allergic reactions?

Allergic reactions happen when your immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance (called an allergen). Allergic reactions can have rapid onset, usually within minutes to two hours from the time of ingestion. Reactions can range from mild to life-threatening. Food allergies can cause IgE mediated or non-IgE mediated reactions. IgE mediated reactions
are the most common and it occurs when food triggers the release of histamines, mast cells, and basophils. This can result in hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or even anaphylaxis.Non-IgE reactions may be triggered by T-cells and can cause eczematous skin rashes, stomach pain,
and other stomach disorders.
The most severe (anaphylactic) reactions involve swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat which can cause difficulty breathing. Other things that can happen are dizziness, fainting, fast or very slow pulse.

What do you do with an allergic reaction?

For mild reactions (hives, itchy eyes or throat, rash, sneezing):
1. First, STOP the exposure, stop eating the food.
2. You can take antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to calm down your body’s
reaction.
3. Apply cold compresses to any itchy skin or hives.
For more severe reactions:
1. Call emergency services 9-1-1 immediately.
2. Use an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen).
3. Remove tight clothes and have your child lay down (unless they are vomiting or are having difficulty breathing).
4. Do not eat or drink anything.

If you do not have an EpiPen and feel that your child may need one in the future, come visit Dr. Sima Stein in San Jose to see if an EpiPen is something that your child needs. We can evaluate your child in our comprehensive physical examinations, thorough history, and see if your child could benefit from having an EpiPen.