Background

Condition Lookup

Sub-Category:

Food Allergies

Number of Conditions: 8

Milk Allergy

Specialty: Allergies and Immunology

Category: Allergic Disorders

Sub-category: Food Allergies

Symptoms:
hives; vomiting; stomach cramps; diarrhea; wheezing; anaphylaxis in severe cases

Root Cause:
Immune system reaction to milk proteins, primarily casein or whey.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Skin prick testing, specific IgE blood tests, oral food challenges under medical supervision.

Treatment:
Complete avoidance of milk and milk-containing products, use of epinephrine for anaphylaxis.

Medications:
Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen, Auvi-Q) for anaphylaxis and oral antihistamines (e.g., Diphenhydramine , Loratadine ) for mild reactions.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1-3% of children; often outgrown by adolescence.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of allergies, eczema, or asthma; early exposure to cow's milk proteins.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good for most children as they often outgrow it; lifelong management needed for persistent cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Anaphylaxis, nutritional deficiencies if not replaced properly, social challenges.

Egg Allergy

Specialty: Allergies and Immunology

Category: Allergic Disorders

Sub-category: Food Allergies

Symptoms:
skin reactions like hives or eczema; stomach pain; nausea; nasal congestion; anaphylaxis in severe cases

Root Cause:
Immune system reaction to proteins in egg whites or yolks, most commonly ovalbumin.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Skin prick tests, specific IgE blood tests, oral food challenge.

Treatment:
Avoidance of eggs and egg-based products, epinephrine for severe reactions, oral immunotherapy in some cases.

Medications:
Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen, Auvi-Q) for anaphylaxis and oral antihistamines (e.g., Diphenhydramine , Loratadine ) for mild reactions.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 0.5-5% of children; many outgrow it by age 5-

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of allergies, atopic conditions, early introduction of eggs in diet.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Favorable for most children; lifelong management needed for persistent cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Anaphylaxis, dietary restrictions leading to potential nutrient deficiencies.

Peanut Allergy

Specialty: Allergies and Immunology

Category: Allergic Disorders

Sub-category: Food Allergies

Symptoms:
hives; swelling; difficulty breathing; vomiting; anaphylaxis

Root Cause:
Immune system response to peanut proteins, particularly arachin and conarachin.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Skin prick tests, specific IgE blood tests, oral food challenge.

Treatment:
Avoidance of peanuts, epinephrine for anaphylaxis, oral immunotherapy under medical supervision.

Medications:
Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen, Auvi-Q), antihistamines (e.g., Diphenhydramine , Cetirizine ), and oral immunotherapy (e.g., Palforzia in specific cases).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1-2% of the population; prevalence has been rising in recent decades.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history, eczema, early or delayed introduction of peanuts in infancy.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Lifelong condition for many; emerging treatments like oral immunotherapy offer hope for desensitization.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe anaphylaxis, social and psychological impacts, dietary restrictions.

Tree Nut Allergy

Specialty: Allergies and Immunology

Category: Allergic Disorders

Sub-category: Food Allergies

Symptoms:
skin reactions like hives; swelling of lips or tongue; difficulty swallowing; wheezing; anaphylaxis

Root Cause:
Immune system reaction to proteins in tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pecans.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Skin prick tests, specific IgE blood tests, oral food challenge.

Treatment:
Avoidance of tree nuts, carrying epinephrine for severe reactions, allergen immunotherapy in development.

Medications:
Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen, Auvi-Q) and oral antihistamines (e.g., Loratadine , Cetirizine ) for mild reactions.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 0.5-1% of the population.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of allergies, atopic conditions, prior allergic reactions to nuts.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Rarely outgrown; lifelong management is often necessary.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Anaphylaxis, cross-reactivity with other nuts, social and dietary challenges.

Shellfish Allergy

Specialty: Allergies and Immunology

Category: Allergic Disorders

Sub-category: Food Allergies

Symptoms:
hives; itching; swelling; wheezing or difficulty breathing; nausea or vomiting; anaphylaxis in severe cases

Root Cause:
Immune system reaction to proteins found in shellfish, such as tropomyosin.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Skin prick tests, specific IgE blood tests, oral food challenge under medical supervision.

Treatment:
Complete avoidance of shellfish, use of epinephrine for anaphylaxis, education on reading food labels.

Medications:
Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen, Auvi-Q) and oral antihistamines (e.g., Diphenhydramine , Loratadine ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 2% of adults and 0.5% of children; more common in adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of allergies, previous allergic reactions to shellfish.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Rarely outgrown; lifelong management is typically necessary.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe anaphylaxis, cross-reactivity with other shellfish, dietary restrictions.

Fish Allergy

Specialty: Allergies and Immunology

Category: Allergic Disorders

Sub-category: Food Allergies

Symptoms:
hives; swelling; stomach pain; nausea; difficulty breathing; anaphylaxis

Root Cause:
Immune system reaction to fish proteins, such as parvalbumin.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Skin prick testing, specific IgE blood tests, oral food challenge.

Treatment:
Avoidance of fish, use of epinephrine for severe reactions, education on avoiding cross-contamination.

Medications:
Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen, Auvi-Q) and oral antihistamines (e.g., Diphenhydramine , Cetirizine ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1% of the global population; more common in adults than children.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of allergies, prior reactions to fish, geographic dietary practices.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Rarely outgrown; lifelong avoidance is typically required.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Anaphylaxis, cross-reactivity with other types of fish, limited dietary options in certain regions.

Wheat Allergy

Specialty: Allergies and Immunology

Category: Allergic Disorders

Sub-category: Food Allergies

Symptoms:
hives; swelling; nausea; vomiting; difficulty breathing; anaphylaxis

Root Cause:
Immune system reaction to proteins found in wheat, including gluten and albumin.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Skin prick tests, specific IgE blood tests, oral food challenge.

Treatment:
Avoidance of wheat products, substitution with gluten-free grains, use of epinephrine for severe reactions.

Medications:
Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen, Auvi-Q) and oral antihistamines (e.g., Diphenhydramine , Loratadine ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 0.2-1% of children and adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of allergies, atopic conditions, prior allergic reactions to wheat.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Many children outgrow it by age 12; adults may need lifelong management.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Anaphylaxis, misdiagnosis with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, limited dietary options.

Soy Allergy

Specialty: Allergies and Immunology

Category: Allergic Disorders

Sub-category: Food Allergies

Symptoms:
hives; itching; swelling; stomach pain; nausea or vomiting; anaphylaxis in severe cases

Root Cause:
Immune system reaction to proteins in soybeans, such as glycinin and conglycinin.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Skin prick tests, specific IgE blood tests, oral food challenge under medical supervision.

Treatment:
Avoidance of soy products, reading food labels carefully, use of epinephrine for severe reactions.

Medications:
Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen, Auvi-Q) and oral antihistamines (e.g., Diphenhydramine , Cetirizine ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 0.4% of children, with most outgrowing it by age

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of allergies, early introduction of soy in diet.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good for most children, as it is often outgrown; lifelong management required for persistent cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Anaphylaxis, challenges with dietary management, potential cross-reactivity with other legumes.