"Does Your Child Really Have A Food Allergy?" - Amy Norton
Many people misunderstand what food allergies are, and even doctors can be confused about how to best diagnose them. It's common for people to think they have a food allergy, but the reality may be different, said Scott Sicherer, MD, professor of pediatrics, allergy and immunology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. But a true food allergy involves an immune system reaction against a particular food, he explained. Just because you think a food upsets you, doesn't mean it's an allergy, said Dr. Sicherer. It's critical to distinguish an allergy from other "adverse reactions" to food, he stressed. The problem is that people can test "positive" for certain allergy triggers on those tests, Dr. Sicherer said, but not really have symptoms when exposed to the substances. The "gold standard" test is a food challenge, which is done by an allergy specialist. There, a patient ingests small amounts of a suspect food over a period of time to see if an allergic reaction occurs. Dr. Sicherer had some general advice for parents: "If you suspect your child has a food allergy, talk to your pediatrician. Don't just make assumptions.
- Scott Sicherer, MD, Professor, Pediatrics, Allergy and Immunology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai