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Food Allergies

Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates, LTD Our Services Food Allergies

Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates, LTD

Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Specialists located in Scottsdale, AZ & Gilbert, AZ

Food allergies have often been a struggle because treatment meant removing specific foods from your diet; however, that has changed. The exceptional team at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates, LTD, with two locations in Scottsdale and another in Gilbert, Arizona, proudly offers oral immunotherapy to treat food allergies. As the first in the state of Arizona to provide this groundbreaking treatment, the team offers 24/7 access to doctors and nurses so you can safely reduce your food allergy. To learn more about oral immunotherapy, call one of the offices or book an appointment online today.

Food Allergies Q & A

What causes food allergies?

Food allergies develop when your immune system mistakenly identifies a protein as a danger to your body. The immune system tags the protein with an antibody, and each time you consume that protein, the antibodies trigger an allergic reaction.

Though children and adults can develop an allergy to any protein, most food allergies are caused by:

  • Peanuts
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Tree nuts
  • Wheat
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Soy

Many food allergies develop before the age of two, and children gradually outgrow them by adulthood. Peanut allergies, however, are notorious for turning into a lifelong and potentially severe allergy. You may, however, have your first allergic reaction as an adult.

What symptoms develop due to food allergies?

Food allergies can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:

  • Stomach pain
  • Itchy mouth or ears
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Nasal congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Wheezing
  • Hives
  • Skin rash  

Food allergy symptoms may appear shortly after eating or delayed for hours. You may not have the same symptoms every time you eat the food that triggers your allergies. 

Do food allergies cause anaphylaxis?

Food allergies — especially allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, and shellfish — can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. 

Anaphylaxis occurs rapidly, causing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling in your lips, tongue, or throat, nausea, vomiting, and fainting. 

An anaphylactic reaction requires an immediate injection of epinephrine and emergency medical care to prevent the response from causing shock.

How do allergists treat food allergies?

Not long ago, the only way to treat a food allergy was to eliminate the food from your diet, but that has changed. The team at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates, LTD, now offers oral immunotherapy. 

When you get oral immunotherapy, you take small doses of your food allergen on a regular schedule. Your provider carefully and precisely increases each dose, gradually desensitizing your immune system and lowering your risk of an allergic reaction.

The team at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates, LTD, are experts in oral immunotherapy and offer a comprehensive program that includes 24/7 access to your board-certified allergist and nurse.

Accidentally consuming a tiny amount of your food allergen can trigger anaphylaxis. Why take that risk when oral immunotherapy can help? To learn more, call Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates, LTD, or book an appointment online today.

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