Brief Answer:
More details are necessary, please attach the report

Detailed Answer:
Hello xxxxxxxxxxxx,

Thank you for asking at HCM.

I went through your query and would like to know more about you as follows:

a. Since when have you been having complaints of frequent bloating?

b. Are there other associated stomach symptoms like diarrhea, burning in chest, regurgitation of sour liquid after meals, constipation, etc.

c. Have you observed any particular food that that causes you more problems?

d. Are your dietary habits regular or irregular?

e. Is your life sedentary or physically active? Do you perform any exercise regularly?

f. Have you had any other types of allergies recently/in past - like nose allergy (sneezing, running nose, etc), asthma (breathing difficulty, coughing, etc), skin allergy (itching, eczema, rash, etc)?

Above details would help me to understand your health and symptoms better.

However, at present, I would like to comment on your allergy report as follows:

Total IgE 288 is a high but not very high (for many allergic persons, it could be in hundreds to thousands). 288 value can be present in both allergic and non-allergic persons. Non-allergic causes of such IgE value could be some parasitic infections, viral infections, autoimmune conditions, etc. It could be also high due to respiratory or skin allergies (at present I don't know whether you have any of them).

We suspect food allergy when specific IgE is more than 0.1 (done with ImmunoCAP, please attach your allergy report on follow-up). But please note that food allergy is only suspected based on your allergy testing, it cannot be confirmed only on basis of any allergy report.

For confirmation of allergy, an allergy specialist would ask your symptoms in great details and try to correlate them with the foods that have high values in allergy report.

If a particular food is found to be culprit, the allergist would advise you elimination diet with that particular food. If your symptoms significantly improve after elimination diet, then only a food allergy will be definitely confirmed.

Hence, at present, I would not suggest you to think that you could have many allergies. It is important to allow a doctor to interpret your allergy report with reference to your symptoms.

Hope above information helps.

Please attach your allergy report on follow-up and also please feel free to ask if you have any further query.

Wish you best of the health ahead.

Thank you very much & regards,

Dr Parin N Parmar
Allergist-Immunologist

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Brief Answer:
Report does not suggest food allergy for any of the foods tested for

Detailed Answer:
Hello xxxxxxxxxxxxxx,

Thank you for your follow-up, the details and the reports.

With reference to your food panel results, I would not suspect allergy to any of the foods that has been tested for.

One more thing, as you have developed symptoms for one year only, I would not think of food allergy first as it is less common to start food allergy symptoms after 50s.

As you feel constipated at times, I would more think a connection between constipation and bloating rather than true food allergy.

In my practice, I would suggest my such patients to treat constipation by ensuring plenty of liquid intake during day, a diet that has good amount of dietary fiber, adding a probiotic supplement, and maintaining a regular physical activity schedule.

As you have frequent runny nose and sometimes breathing troubles, as an allergy specialist, I would also test you for allergies to inhaled particles such as house dust mites, molds, and pollens. This will help to identify your respiratory symptoms and also will explain elevated IgE levels, if they are due to allergies to inhalants.

I would also ask for stool analysis of my such patient and treat her with an anti-parasitic medicine as parasitic infections can cause frequent bloating and can increase IgE levels. Please note that parasitic infections are common in my region.

Hope above information will helpful to you.

To summarize, I would not think of food allergy for any of the foods tested for, based on your allergy evaluation. Other causes of elevated IgE levels need to be considered before considering diagnosis of food allergy as cause of bloating.

Wish you best of the health above.

Thank you & best regards,

Dr Parin N Parmar

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Brief Answer:
Need not to stay away from foods in allergy profile

Detailed Answer:
Hello xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,

Let me briefly answer your queries again.

1. IgE 288 is high but it does not necessarily mean food allergy. There are other causes for high IgE also.

Were I treating you, I would also think of other causes for high IgE such as allergy to inhalants, etc.

2. In simple words, your food allergy profile does not suggest allergy to any of the foods tested.

So based on food allergy report, you need not to stay away from any of the foods, unless your doctor feels so.

3. Diagnosis of allergies is very complex and can best be made by a qualified allergist only. So, although allergy report does not show food allergy, if you or your doctor feels that you have some food allergy, you should consult a qualified Allergist-Immunologist in your area.

Hope your questions have been answered.

Wish you best of the health ahead.

Thank you very much and best regards,

Dr Parin N Parmar

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