POLLEN COUNTFood allergies are becoming increasingly common amongst the general population. They can cause a range of symptoms from a mild rash or stomach cramps to anaphylaxis– a condition that can be life-threatening. Food allergy testing is an important diagnostic tool to establish what type of foodis Read More
Food Allergies
Food Allergy Testing Prep Tips
If you are among 30 million Americans who suffer from food allergies, you know that vomiting, diarrhea, tingling or itching in the mouth, and swelling of lips, face, or tongue can be frightening and overwhelming. For some people, an allergic reaction to a particular food can be uncomfortable, but Read More
Allergies: Do You Know The Symptoms?
Allergies are an overreaction by the immune system to a perceived threat, which are called allergens. You could be allergic to substances in your environment or certain foods. You could also be allergic to stinging insect bites. Allergy testing, namely the skin prick test, can test for 50 known Read More
How to Interpret Your Food Allergy Test Results
The gold standard for food allergy testing is the oral food challenge, which is a medically supervised, gradual process of introducing a food allergen to a patient in order to diagnose or rule out a food allergy. The doctor may also use an Immunoglobulin (IgE) blood test, which measures the Read More
Food Allergy Myths
A food allergy is an immunological response to a certain food. If you are allergic to a particular food, your immune system mistakenly identifies that food as a foreign invader and therefore tries to attack it, which is an allergic reaction. Among the most common foods that induce food allergies Read More
May is Food Allergy Awareness Month: Sharing Knowledge About the Disease
May is food allergy awareness month. Several efforts are being made toward greater public awareness of food allergies. If you are a parent with a child with food allergies or have food allergies yourself, you can share knowledge about the disease with your community to help save lives. A food Read More
Food Allergy Testing for Children
A food allergy is, no doubt, an utter nuisance. However, when it affects a vulnerable person in your home—such as your child—you will likely consider it a threat as well. Children living with food allergies need special precautions to avoid an allergic reaction, which can cause distressing Read More
Unproven Food Allergy Tests
Some healthcare providers may offer diagnostic tests that are unproven food allergy tests. There are many tests that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) do not recommend for the diagnosis of food allergy. This article discusses some of these tests. IgG Testing This Read More
The Difference Between Food Intolerance and a Food Allergy
Symptoms of food intolerance and a food allergy can be similar, so people can be confused between the two. However, there are clear distinctions. Food intolerance is a problem with digestion, whereas a food allergy is a problem with the immune system. Food intolerance may produce discomfort, but it Read More
Recognizing and Treating Food Allergy Reaction Symptoms
For most of us, a peanut is a tasty nut and also tastes great in the soft form of peanut butter. However, for others, a peanut is a potentially life-threatening food if accidentally consumed. The cause of a food allergy could be any food, including eggs, milk, or shellfish. The worst-case Read More
