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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Severe Food Allergy

hello please help me. my name is lisa..I am 23 years old, and ever since i can remember i have always had stomach problems, constipation always, lactose intolarante, gas, abdominal pain, I got diagnosed with IBS at age 20 . now that im 23, 6 months ago i went to subway and ate chiken and dumplings, witch i had never had before, as soon as I got home i started itching later that day my whole body was covered in big red welts. then my foot became swollen, I took benaeryl and the next day my other foot was swollen my hands and my eyes i coulnt even walk.. i went to the emergency room and they game me shots that made the swelling a little better.. it took about 2 weeks for all the marks on my body to go away.. NOW i have this uncontrolable iching with little bumps all over my arms legs thighs... I went to a allergist specialist and after preforming about 40 diffrent foods pricks on my back right away ALL OF THEM TURNED RED ,BIG RED MARKS. I have been searching and searching on the web and CANNOT find anything about the tests coming out ALL positive... The doctor game me 2 sheets showing the numbers and most of them are 5.5 some 6.5 some 7.5.. and he said I have DERMAOGRAPHIC ... I really dont understand.. I cant stop itching. am I allergic to all foods... ??? please someone help me..
Fri, 4 Jul 2014
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Allergist and Immunologist 's  Response
Hello Lisa,

Thank you for asking at HCM.

There are two types of allergy tests - skin prick test (which you have been undergone) and serum tests (ImmunoCAP or RAST).

I suggest you not to be worried by test results. These tests are not 100%. They only complement a clinician's decision about diagnosis of your food allergy. If you are dermographic, skin testing will give you what we call false positives (means even if test is positive you are not allergic to it). So in a dermographic person, skin testing is not a reliable test. So forget the results of skin test if you are dermographic!!

Diagnosis of food allergy requires a very detailed history about your symptoms & your diet, right from very beginning when you had your first allergy symptoms. This requires a detailed consultation. After suspecting the foods you may be allergic to, you may be advised serum allergy tests to support the diagnosis. The best diagnosis of food allergy is by food challenge which is done at specialized allergy centers.

I would suggest you to keep a food diary in which you can keep note of food taken (including ingredients) and every symptoms you developed, with time & date. This will help you and your doctor to suspect what is it that may be causing symptoms.

Common food allergies are milk, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, soy, eggs, fish & shellfish. But one can be allergic to any other food substances from routine diet.

Also, I should tell you that there are other gastrointestinal disorders which may mimic food allergy and there is food intolerance (in simple words it means one cannot tolerate some foods) also. A gastroenterologist consultation would be helpful to you if you don't have food allergy.

So I would suggest you not to think that you are allergic to all foods!

Also I would suggest you to take an antihistamine (levocetirizine or cetirizine or fexofenadine) and montelukast daily to control your symptoms.

Wish you best of the health.

Regards.
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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Severe Food Allergy

Hello Lisa, Thank you for asking at HCM. There are two types of allergy tests - skin prick test (which you have been undergone) and serum tests (ImmunoCAP or RAST). I suggest you not to be worried by test results. These tests are not 100%. They only complement a clinician s decision about diagnosis of your food allergy. If you are dermographic, skin testing will give you what we call false positives (means even if test is positive you are not allergic to it). So in a dermographic person, skin testing is not a reliable test. So forget the results of skin test if you are dermographic!! Diagnosis of food allergy requires a very detailed history about your symptoms & your diet, right from very beginning when you had your first allergy symptoms. This requires a detailed consultation. After suspecting the foods you may be allergic to, you may be advised serum allergy tests to support the diagnosis. The best diagnosis of food allergy is by food challenge which is done at specialized allergy centers. I would suggest you to keep a food diary in which you can keep note of food taken (including ingredients) and every symptoms you developed, with time & date. This will help you and your doctor to suspect what is it that may be causing symptoms. Common food allergies are milk, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, soy, eggs, fish & shellfish. But one can be allergic to any other food substances from routine diet. Also, I should tell you that there are other gastrointestinal disorders which may mimic food allergy and there is food intolerance (in simple words it means one cannot tolerate some foods) also. A gastroenterologist consultation would be helpful to you if you don t have food allergy. So I would suggest you not to think that you are allergic to all foods! Also I would suggest you to take an antihistamine (levocetirizine or cetirizine or fexofenadine) and montelukast daily to control your symptoms. Wish you best of the health. Regards.