False food allergy beliefs are extremely common. The word allergy refers to a specific reaction of the immune system and medical treatments are directed toward blocking this reaction. False food allergy beliefs or myths drive many people to over treat and aggressively manage symptoms. This over-treatment occurs out of fear that a progressive food allergy reaction may happen.
Food intolerances may mimic food allergies. Many people spend excessive amounts of time eliminating foods and taking supplements and medications to avoid worsening symptoms. False food allergy beliefs place a heavy burden on families and significantly impact social interactions.
A food intolerance occurs when a food, drink or additive is eaten and a reaction happens. Symptoms are usually related to digestive symptoms; however, other reactions are possible. Food intolerances do not progress to urgent life-threatening reactions, but they can have chronic or intermittent symptoms.
A true food allergy occurs when food is eaten, touched or even inhaled. The food then triggers the immune system to mount a reaction which can affect many organs in the body; consequently, severe or life-threatening reactions may occur. These are the food reactions most people fear. Allergy is a true disease.
Food allergies are extremely common with 1 in 13 children showing some degree of food allergy. I plan to discuss different aspects of allergic disease in future posts; however, it is important to fully understand the difference between a true allergy and an intolerance.
The most severe forms of food allergies show immediate symptoms, and no doubt exists about the presence of an allergy. Mild to moderate food allergies, where reactions are delayed or intermittent, remain more difficult to diagnose. An allergy specialist should be consulted.
Many true food allergies show mild to moderate symptoms; consequently, parents may feed children these foods in moderation. Ask your child’s physician the severity of the allergy reaction to best determine the appropriate treatment plan.
The best approach to diagnosing food allergies is to obtain a history, perform an exam, perform allergy blood and/or skin testing, and eliminating foods from the diet. Check out a post that highlights the different methods to determine if you have allergies.
For many years, physicians have believed it to be necessary to avoid foods that have a high chance of causing severe allergic reactions. However, new information about introducing infants to peanuts early in life has provided significant hope for severe food allergy reduction in the future.
The most important fact that parents need to know is that all food allergies are not the same. Because of the well-known severe allergic reactions, many parents believe several false statements about allergies. Every day in my practice, I spend time explaining the reasons that these common beliefs are false.
4 false food allergy beliefs
1. Food allergies can always be determined by history
A complete history remains the best method to assess allergies. I am a Pediatric Ear Nose Throat (ENT) and Allergy specialist and find that children often provide incomplete symptom history. We must rely on what parents notice.
My own daughter had obvious nasal allergies and asthma. When her symptoms became difficult to control, she underwent allergy skin testing. Not only did I find her severe pollen allergies, but I found unsuspected severe food allergies!
When questioned directly, she admitted that some foods made her mouth itch and caused her gums to swell; however, she kept eating the foods because she liked them. Some kids report the foods that bother them, others simply are labeled ‘picky eaters’ because they cannot explain how the foods make them feel. Yet others, like my child, never complain or stop eating the foods despite clear symptoms.
2. I cannot eat foods that I am allergic to
Many people carry a diagnosis of food allergies but eat the offending foods with no obvious symptoms. Practitioners routinely report that these foods are not true allergies. I disagree. These reactions represent mild allergies that may not have obvious clinical significance, but over time, they can cause the chronic problems that I treat every day as an ENT surgeon.
Most people simply need to “reduce and rotate” but not completely eliminate these offending foods. Your physician should discuss this plan with you.
3. Allergy blood tests are all the same
One of the most common tests to screen for allergies is a blood test. However, there are many types of tests which do not measure the same thing.
Often a food intolerance test reveals 50-100 reactions! First of all….just NO. Second of all…just NO.
Ask your doctor exactly what the test is measuring. Tests that measure IgG, show results for food intolerances. IgG measures a different immune reaction in the body. Tests that measure IgE show results for true food allergies. We often look for specific IgE to specific foods and not just the total amount of IgE in the body. Each measurement tells us different information.
After blood test results are obtained, your physician will determine if skin testing is needed. Tests combined with clinical history provide the best treatment plans.
4. My child will outgrow the allergies
Allergy evaluations occur based on reported problems; therefore, if no symptoms are reported, an allergy evaluation does not occur.
Many children outgrow their allergy symptoms. When parents request an allergy test to ensure the allergy no longer exists, I frequently find ongoing allergy reactions based on test results. The allergy reaction may continue to exist, however, it is no longer significant.
A positive allergy test with no significant allergy symptoms leads people to falsely claim the allergy is gone. There may be no need to take medications or avoid the foods; however, I have seen patients return years later with obvious symptoms.
The immune system is not predictable and I believe that many patients with one set of allergy symptoms later show different symptoms.
The children who fail to improve their allergy symptoms make up a large part of my practice! The Allergy March is the term used to describe the progressive changes in allergy symptoms over time.
Mild symptoms may later develop into chronic more severe symptoms. As an ENT with an extensive allergy practice, I witness this progression regularly. Allergies often occur forever; however, the symptoms and management may change. Many of my food allergy patients actually have nasal symptoms and require classic nasal allergy treatments.
I suggest that parents ask questions during their child’s visit with their allergy physician. Do not simply believe the false food allergy beliefs and myths that are frequently repeated. If you are interested in getting updated information with parenting and healthcare tips, please consider subscribing to my blog to avoid missing a post!
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10 comments
This is very interesting. I have several allergies and still don’t understand some of this stuff! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
This is a very tricky subject and the exact symptoms may mean different things to each person. I am happy to share information so that it is easier to understand the plan of action your physicians may recommend.
I am in constant debate about food allergies and sensitivities. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for me yet.
The rhyme or reason can be difficult to determine and I encourage everyone to keep paying attention. Some of my patients do not always show symptoms unless they eat many allergenic foods a few days in a row or if they are eaten while grass or weed allergies are acting up. Because it is not consistent, it can be hard to understand. Keep paying attention as the answer may show itself later!
Thank you for sharing this! My daughter and I get incredibly sick if we ingest pumpkin. This was really useful.
Oh wow! That is not a common allergen, but I encourage people to look at related foods. Pumpkin may be the worst but others in the same category may give vague symptoms. Such a tricky subject.
I had no idea of the differences between the two. I thought of them as one clumped issue.
I am happy to be able to share information that may be helpful to you!
So much great information. I have no food allergies, but it always concerns me because my kids are still young.
It is great that you don’t have the allergies since that can be hereditary. Your kids may develop them later but chances are lower with no family history.