National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Food Allergy is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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National Institutes of Health
Food Allergy
Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by your body's immune system.
In adults, the foods that most often trigger allergic reactions include fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts, such as walnuts. Problem foods for children can include eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat.
Symptoms of food allergy include
- Itching or swelling in your mouth
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps and pain
- Hives or eczema
- Tightening of the throat and trouble breathing
- Drop in blood pressure
Your health care provider may use a detailed history, elimination diet, and skin and blood tests to diagnose a food allergy.
When you have food allergies, you must be prepared to treat an accidental exposure. Wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace, and carry an auto-injector device containing epinephrine (adrenaline).
You can only prevent the symptoms of food allergy by avoiding the food. After you and your health care provider have identified the foods to which you are sensitive, you must remove them from your diet.
NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Start Here
- Food Allergies(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
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Food Allergy(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
- Food Allergy: Tips to Remember(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
- Also available in Spanish
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Overviews
- Food Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Latest News
- Food Allergies Tied to Impaired Growth in Kids(02/24/2013, HealthDay)
- Childhood Allergies May Be Affected by Race, Genetics(02/23/2013, HealthDay)
- Allergies, Extra Weight Tied to Bullying(12/24/2012, Reuters Health)
- More News on Food Allergy
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Allergy Blood Testing(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Allergy Skin Tests(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Food Allergy Symptoms and Diagnosis (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
- Getting the Facts on Food Allergy Testing(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - PDF
- Reasons to Do Food Challenges(National Jewish Health)
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Treatment
- Food Allergy Treatment and Avoidance (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
- Treating an Allergic Reaction(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- Return to top
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Prevention/Screening
- Food Allergies: Reducing the Risks(Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
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Disease Management
- Egg, Milk or Wheat Allergies: What to Avoid(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
- Flying with Food Allergies(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- Have Food Allergies? Read the Label(Food and Drug Administration)
- Tips for Managing Food Allergies(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
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Why You Need to Know about the Food Allergy Guidelines(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
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Specific Conditions
- Anaphylaxis(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- Also available in Spanish
- Common Food Allergens Index(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- Also available in Spanish
- Egg Allergy(Nemours Foundation)
- Milk Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Peanut Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Shellfish Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Soy Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Sulfites: A Sensitive Issue(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Uncommon Food Allergens(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- Wheat Allergy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Related Issues
- Composting and Food Allergies: Take Care of the Environment and Yourself(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE) or (EoE)(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
- Food Allergy Myths(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- Food Allergy: Can It Develop Later in Life?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Food Intolerance vs. Food Allergy: What's the Difference?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Oral Allergy Syndrome(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- Other Allergies(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- What People Mistake for Food Allergies(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
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Tutorials
- Virtual Allergist(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
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Videos
- Can Allergies Play a Role in Acid Reflux?(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
- e-Learning Center: Educational Webinars(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- Food Allergies: Reducing the Risks(Food and Drug Administration)
- If I Had - A Child with a Food Allergy(Insidermedicine)
- If I Had - A Food Allergy(Insidermedicine)
- If I Had - An Allergic Reaction(Insidermedicine)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Food Hypersensitivity(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Milk Hypersensitivity(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Nut Hypersensitivity(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Peanut Hypersensitivity(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Food Hypersensitivity
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Research
- Baked Egg Challenges in Outpatient Settings Are Valuable and Safe for Most Patients(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
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Food Allergy(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
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Hope for Beating Egg Allergy(National Institutes of Health)
- Ingesting Baked Egg May Help Children Outgrow Egg Allergy(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
- Results of New Study Offers Potential Clues about How Peanut Allergy Emerges(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
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Severe Food Allergy Reactions in Kids(National Institutes of Health)
- Tick Bites: A Common Cause of IgE Antibodies to Alpha-Gal(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- Find an Allergist/Immunologist(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
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Organizations
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Law and Policy
- Food Labeling(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
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Statistics
- Food Allergy Among U.S. Children: Trends in Prevalence and Hospitalizations(National Center for Health Statistics)
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MedlinePlus Magazine
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Children
- Asthma and Food Allergies(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Diagnosing Food Allergies in Children(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Egg Allergy(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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Five Ways to Prepare for an Allergy Emergency(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Food Allergies(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Food Allergy Reactions(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Going to School with Food Allergies(Nemours Foundation)
- How a Child Might Describe a Reaction(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- Infant Allergies and Food Sensitivities(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Milk Allergy in Infants(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Nut and Peanut Allergy(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Outgrowing Food Allergies(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
- School Guidelines for Managing Students with Food Allergies(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
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Teenagers
- Egg Allergy(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Food Allergies(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Milk Allergy(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Nut and Peanut Allergy(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Talking to Your Teen about Food Allergy(Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) - PDF
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Patient Handouts
- Anaphylaxis
- Also available in Spanish
- Food Allergies: Reducing the Risks(Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
- Food allergy
- Also available in Spanish
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MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
