Imagine going to out to dinner and breaking out in hives as you eat your favorite shrimp dish. You think it couldn’t be a food allergy because you’ve eaten this same meal many times over the years and you’re an adult with no history of food allergies. The truth is, while most food allergies do start in childhood, they can develop at any stage of life. In fact, millions of adults in the US have developed a sudden allergy to a food they’ve eaten their entire lives. Researchers do not know why it happens.
“About 1 in 5 adults will report that they’re allergic to a food and of those people, about 50 percent will report that they developed it in adulthood,” says Dr. Ashleigh Olson, SSM Health allergist and immunologist.
The most common foods that people are allergic to include milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. Symptoms can range from mild hives to life-threatening anaphylaxis which occurs when bronchial tissues swell, causing shortness of breath and loss of consciousness. For an adult who has never had to worry about food allergies, the diagnosis can be a big surprise that requires a major change in day-to-day living.
“If you are diagnosed with a food allergy, you’ve got to be really good about avoiding this food,” says Dr. Olson, who also has food allergies herself. “So that means reading ingredient labels for mention of that food and asking about it when you go to restaurants or a friend’s house. There is always that potential for anaphylaxis so anyone that I am diagnosing with this kind of food allergy, I’m preparing them that they need an EpiPen because this could be something very dangerous.”
EpiPen is an injection device that delivers the life-saving drug called epinephrine which is used when someone is experiencing a severe allergic reaction. Due to her allergy to nuts, Dr. Olson carries an EpiPen for herself. She says, even if you’ve never had anaphylaxis, it’s important to be ready in case an allergic reaction escalates.
The most common food allergy signs and symptoms include:
- tingling or itching in the mouth
- hives, itching or eczema
- swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat or other parts of the body
- wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
- abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
- dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
In addition to the type of food reaction that can develop into anaphylaxis, there is a different type of food allergy called food pollen syndrome or oral allergy syndrome. The difference between oral allergy syndrome and a food allergy is that the symptoms are localized to the mouth and not dangerous.
“This occurs because our primary allergy is actually to pollen - tree pollen, grass pollen and weed pollen. The proteins that are in those pollens are actually very similar to the proteins found in fresh fruits and vegetables as well as some nuts and seeds. Our body can get the two things confused,” says Dr. Olson. “So, you’re eating a fresh apple and your body is thinking ‘Oh my gosh! There’s birch tree pollen in my mouth’ and it launches this localized immune response inside your mouth and throat. People will complain about some itching or swelling, kind of a scratchiness inside their mouth and throat. Typically, this is not anything dangerous because the proteins get broken down immediately once they hit your stomach and then the reaction is done, so it doesn’t cause a full-blown anaphylactic reaction. This is actually something that is pretty common and develops more in adulthood rather than childhood. It may seem kind of scary to people because they’re thinking, all of the sudden, they’re allergic to such benign things like apples and cherries. A lot of the pitted fruits fall under this category as well as melons, zucchini, potatoes and tomatoes.”
If you suspect you have a food allergy, see your doctor and avoid exposure to the food altogether until your appointment. If you do eat the food and have a mild reaction, over-the-counter antihistamines may help relieve symptoms. If you have a more severe reaction and any signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, seek emergency help. Learn more at: https://www.ssmhealth.com/allergy-immunology
