Food Allergies

Approximately 4-6% of adults and 4% of children have a food allergy. Food allergies occur when your immune system over reacts to a food that is harmless. The immune system sees it as a threat and triggers a protective response.

There are 8 foods that account for more than 90% of all food allergies. These include egg, cow’s milk, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts. Symptoms of a food allergy can consist of any of the following: rash/hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, throat swelling, and passing out or shock. Reactions range from mild to severe. However, food allergy reactions are not predictable. You can have a mild reaction one time and have a severe reaction the next time you are exposed. Since food allergic reactions can be severe and although rare, can be life threatening, it is vital that you determine the causative food and how to avoid it. There are newer treatment options for food allergies in the recent years. At Highland Park Allergy and Asthma Specialists, we can test for food allergies and determine the best and safest treatment course for you.

There is another type of food allergic reaction called Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome, also referred to as FPIES. This consists of repetitive vomiting with or without diarrhea that can lead to severe dehydration and at times shock. This is a medical emergency and needs to be treated promptly with IV fluids.

The physicians at Highland Park Allergy and Asthma Specialists can diagnose FPIES and determine the best course of action for you and your family.
There is another type of food allergic reaction called Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome, also referred to as FPIES. This consists of repetitive vomiting with or without diarrhea that can lead to severe dehydration and at times shock. This is a medical emergency and needs to be treated promptly with IV fluids. The physicians at Highland Park Allergy and Asthma Specialists can diagnose FPIES and determine the best course of action for you and your family.