Food Allergy Specialist In Miami, Florida

Food allergic adults and children, unfortunately, most celebrations are fun events that are often filled with a great deal of worry. Why? Because food allergies may often lead to severe allergic reactions.

Food allergies are most often the result of a response in the immune system which identifies certain compounds in specific foods as allergens. When patients ingest these allergens, the troublesome compounds trigger an immune response that can lead to the production of chemicals, including histamine, which will lead to the development of allergy symptoms like:

• Hives
• Itching
• Diarrhea
• Wheezing
• Swelling

As a matter of fact, food allergies may also trigger anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention.

Before finding the most appropriate food allergy treatment, a knowledgeable food allergy doctor will help establish whether patients have a food intolerance or food allergy.

Being intolerant to certain types of food will typically involve the GI tract, often causing similar symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), but patients aren’t at risk of anaphylaxis. On the other hand, food allergies involve the immune system and, thus, require a different medical approach.

For the most part, the root causes (allergens) of most food allergies are proteins found in:

• Eggs
• Cow’s milk
• Soy
• Fish
• Wheat
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Shellfish

For the most part, allergic reactions may occur even after the goods are cooked and even after digestion. While in other cases, research suggests that allergic responses will happen after the food has been heated or baked (in the case of eggs and milk in the case of children with food allergies).

Food allergy symptoms can occur within two hours in most cases but may be delayed by four to eight hours in the case of alpha-gal allergies.

When suspecting a food allergy, patients are often referred to an allergy doctor who will determine whether the symptoms are truly caused by allergies or due to other disorders that are related to food. When it comes to food allergy treatment, you should work closely together with your doctor. With their help, you can pinpoint the foods that are causing the problems. With that knowledge in your hand, your doctor can create an excellent management plan that you can follow, helping you avoid allergens.

A combination of preparedness, knowledge, and avoidance is the best food allergy treatment. Your food allergy doctor will help you learn about the things you have to know about when learning food labels or when asking about food ingredients in restaurants.

Also, a good certified food allergy doctor (like the team here at the Miami Allergy and Immunology Center) will teach you about the importance and the usage of auto-injectable epinephrine and antihistamines if you are experiencing an emergency reaction.

Remember, dealing with a food allergy is all about accurate diagnosis, an effective treatment plan, and educational information. The Miami Allergy and Immunology Center is able to help in all three areas.

Feel free to call us at (305) 270-1073 if you have any questions or concerns regarding food allergies.