Food allergy symptoms are most common in babies and children, but they can appear at any age. You can even develop an allergy to foods you have eaten for years with no problems.

Allergic reactions to food normally occur within minutes of eating the trigger food, though they can sometimes appear a few hours later. Symptoms of a food allergy include:

> Fainting, hives or red, itchy skin
> Stuffy or itchy nose, sneezing or itchy, teary eyes
> Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
> Angioedema or swelling of the face, tongue, lips, and throat
> Anaphylaxis (in severe cases)- constricted airways, rapid pulse, mental confusion, cardiovascular collapse and shock

To make a diagnosis, a board-certified and fellowship-trained allergist will conduct a thorough examination to determine your food allergy. This may include a skin test, blood test, or food allergies test.

After identifying which food(s) you are allergic to, the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Center at Medical Center Clinic will educate you on how to prevent future reactions, self-administer medication when needed, and suggest other treatment options if available.

Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) introduces your immune system to very small amounts of a food allergen. By gradually increasing the doses, you will become less sensitive and less allergic to the food allergen. While OTI has been demonstrated to be effective at inducing long-term remission of food allergies, there is no guarantee of a cure.

To qualify for OIT, there must be a documented allergy to a food in the form of a positive skin test or a positive blood test. An epinephrine auto-injector must always be available to the patient for emergency use, if needed. It may take several months to achieve the maintenance dose on OIT. The time may be longer if there are reactions or if the doses are not administered on a regular basis.