When you’ve been diagnosed with a food allergy or have a child with a food allergy, enjoying the foods you know and love can be difficult. Constantly having to look at ingredients lists or ask for modified recipes can be exhausting.
Luckily, for some people, food allergies fade away by the time they reach the age of 16. Here are some food allergies that people are most likely to outgrow and how to tell if you’ve outgrown your food allergy.
Allergies vs. Intolerances
Some people confuse their food allergies for food intolerances. Food intolerances are more common than food allergies, especially in children. Food allergies have symptoms that include:
- Vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling
- Itching
- Hives
On the other hand, food intolerance symptoms typically include:
- Upset stomach
- Abdominal pain
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Irritable bowels
The best way to treat food allergies is by avoiding the food and carrying an EpiPen in case you accidentally ingest it. You should also avoid foods to which you’re intolerant, but consuming a small amount of them won’t be life threatening.
Which Allergies Are People Most Likely To Outgrow?
Milk, egg, shellfish, peanuts, and wheat are the main food allergens. However, egg, milk, and wheat are the ones that many people outgrow over time. However, allergies to shellfish, fish, and tree nuts are much tougher to outgrow.
How Can You Tell You’ve Outgrown Your Allergy?
If your local allergist diagnosed you with a food allergy and you think you’ve outgrown it, you can have two tests performed: a blood test and a prick test. Another way to tell if you’ve outgrown your food allergy is to participate in a food challenge. A food challenge is when you eat a tiny piece of food you’re allergic to under the supervision of our allergists. The allergist will carefully and closely monitor your reaction. Over time, you’ll eat more significant amounts, and if your body doesn’t react, you’ll continue to eat the food until you’ve eaten a whole serving.
Food allergies can be a pain, but Allergy & ENT Associates has the perfect solution to help you overcome them. The certified allergists at our Houston ENT clinic can give you a personalized plan to help you along the way.
