Food allergy

Allergy to meals is an abnormal response to a food triggered by the body's immune system.

In adults, the foods that trigger the most allergic reactions are: fish, shellfish, peanuts and dried fruits such as nuts. In children, it can be eggs, milk, peanuts, dried fruits, soybeans and wheat.

Symptoms of a food allergy include:

Itching and swelling of the mouth
Vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal cramping and pain
Rash or eczema
Feel throat tight and difficulty breathing
Decrease in blood pressure
To diagnose a food allergy, your health care provider may use the person's medical history, a diet where the foods that are possibly causing the allergy are removed, and skin and blood tests.

If a person knows that they are allergic to a food, they should be prepared to deal with accidental exposure to it. It may help to wear a bracelet or necklace with information about the allergy and carry an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline).

Only the symptoms of an allergic reaction can be prevented by avoiding the food that causes them. Once the person and their health care provider have identified the food to which the person is sensitive, they must be removed from their diet.