Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What are signs and symptoms of food allergies?

    Related Topics
    Allergy Food Allergies
    answer this question

  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • 2

    Thanks

    Dr Michael Elstein

    GP (General Practitioner)

    I am an anti-ageing/wellness expert and author of ‘Eternal Health,’ and ‘You have the power.’ I have appeared on radio and television and currently have … View Profile

    Reactions to foods like a rash or a swollen tongue or bloating can be immediate or they can be less obvious like the development of fatigue or headaches or a host of other health complaints.  Identifying which foods cause these problems can involve either the use of elimination and challenge testing with the  possible offending foods or a series of blood tests or even breath tests, which are used to isolate fructose and lactose intolerances.  You would need to find a practitioner who is aware of the appropriateness of all these different investigations.

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

  • 4

    Thanks

    Jennie Rogers nee Studdert

    Registered Nurse

    I have been a paediatric registered nurse for over twenty years. I am trained asthma educator, early childhood nurse and currently work in the area … View Profile

    The signs and symptoms of food allergies are generally classed into two different types, a mild to moderate allergic reaction or a severe (anaphylactic) reaction which has the potential to become life threatening. 
    Mild to moderate food allergy symptoms are sweeling of lips, face or eyes, hives or welts over the body, tingling mouth, vomiting or stomach pains. 
    Anaphylaxis or severe allergic symptoms are difficult or noisy breathing, swelling of the tongue, swelling or tightness in the throat, difficult talking or a hoarse voice, wheezing or coughing, dizziness or collapse or going pale and floppy in young children. 
    Food allergic symptoms usually occur within minutes of ingesting a food one is allergic to but can take up to two hours to occur. It is imperative is someone is having anaphylaxis to food that they seek medical help immediately by calling an ambulance or if they have an adrenaline auto-injecting device that it is used and their anaphylaxis action plan is followed. 
    It is imperative to have food allergies diagnosed correctly by a specialist in this area, by using clinical history and skin prick testing. 
    Food intolerances are very different to food allergies and the treatment is different as well as the investigations. 
    For furhter information, please refer to WWW.allergy.org.au

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

  • Dr Liam Beiglari

    Allergy Specialist & Immunologist

    I am a clinical immunologist and allergist. I am experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with allergic diseases, autoimmune conditions, those living … View Profile

    Food allergy can cause mild, moderate or severe reactions. Mild to moderate symptoms can include swelling of the lips, face or eyes, hives or welts on the skin, abdominal pain, or vomiting.

    The more severe form of food allergy is anaphylaxis. This can include difficult or noisy breathing, swelling of the tongue, swelling or tightness in the throat, wheeze or persistent cough, difficulty talking, a hoarse voice, dizziness, fainting or collapse. These symptoms can reflect involvement of the breathing or circulatory system and require urgent treatment.

    Most immediate food allergies occur soon after eating the food, often within minutes and usually within 1-2 hours. A useful clue is reproducibility: symptoms tend to occur each time the trigger food is eaten.

    There are exceptions. Some people react differently depending on how well the food is cooked, such as in some egg or milk allergies. Some reactions require a cofactor, such as exercise in wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis. Mammalian meat allergy can also be delayed, with symptoms occurring hours after eating the food.

    There are also mimics of food allergy, so it is important to be assessed by an allergist if the diagnosis is unclear or if there has been a severe reaction. An allergist can take a detailed history and, where appropriate, arrange skin prick testing, specific IgE blood tests, or a supervised food challenge.

    If anaphylaxis is a concern, an allergist can also advise on an emergency plan and whether an adrenaline autoinjector is needed.

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

You may also like these related questions

Related Fact Sheets
Related Questions
Community Contributor

Empowering Australians to make better health choices