Question 1

can a food allergy just develop? had a laparascopy a month ago, could the general anasthetic trigger a food allergy? no medication taken after op

Accepted Answer

No: General anesthesia cannot trigger a food allergy. If you are allergic to a food, you were susceptible to the allergy to begin with. It has nothing to do with having anesthesia. General anesthesia cannot modify your body's genetically determined immune response to allergens.  However, intraoperative allergic reactions can occur with anesthesia in people with certain food or drug allergies.

Question 2

can medications/supplements cause a food allergy? broke out in hives after eating a bread, never had a problem before i started supplement. same thing happened a few months ago with a different vitamin/food combo. allergy went away after stopping med

Accepted Answer

Basics:  Food or other sensitivities can develop on any day of your life &amp; would be expected to persist thereafter. It can be a food additive/seasoning/or the food itself. A diary to document exposures/reactions is often the best way to keep track of such a problem. There are skin/blood tests for some agents/foods but they are not always helpful/accurate.

Question 3

what r chances an adult w/no known food allergies will develp one? does having drug allergies increase a person's chances?

Accepted Answer

Possible: It is possible for a person to develop a food or medication allergy at any time in their life. Drug allergies do not usually correspond to food allergies or visa versa. There are some plant allergies that correspond to food allergies, however.

Question 4

i have a hiccup due to food allergy. what over-the-counter drug can give me some relief for this?

Accepted Answer

Antihistamine: Try Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Be careful as this may cause drowsiness.

Question 5

i'm afraid to eat fish because i've read adults are often allergic to it. i have no food allergies but have many drug allergies and celiac. risky?

Accepted Answer

Not p[particularly: The fact that you have some drug allergies &amp; celiac do not mean you are more likely to be allergic to fish. If the idea spooks you your doc can run a blood test to see if you have a fish sensitivity. Fish/nuts/cow/milk &amp; wheat are common food allergy triggers but the vast majority of the worlds population is not allergic to any of them.

Question 6

need advice on what is the the difference between having a food intolerance and having a food allergy?

Accepted Answer

See below: Food allergy: usually comes on suddenly.     Small amount of food can trigger. Happens every time you eat the food. Can be life-threatening  

food intolerance: usually comes on gradually. May only happen when you eat a lot of the food. May only happen if you eat the food often. Is not life-threatening.

Question 7

when you have a food allergy what does the rash look like and can the rash be anywhere on the body?

Accepted Answer

Varies: Rashes from food allergies can occur anywhere on the body and can vary from simple redness to hives to lip or tongue swelling.

Question 8

what is the medical term for a food allergy?

Accepted Answer

Medical term: There are several.  Most allergists just say food allergy.  If you want to get more specific you could say "IgE mediated food hypersensitivity".  That would distinguish between a food allergy and another type of food reaction such as lactose intolerance which would not be classified as an allergy.

Question 9

is my baby having a food allergy if he has sniffles all the time?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Having sniffles is not an indication of food allergies.  Certainly, environmental allergies can cause pesistent runny nose and sneezing.

Question 10

are food allergies considered a disability?

Accepted Answer

Not that I know of: If you can avoid the allergenic foods, the answer is no.  However if you work in a seafood factory and the steam from the seafood causes a serious allergic reaction whenever you work, then it may be considered a disability.

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Doctor answers about:

Food allergy medication

A member asked:

Can a food allergy just develop? had a laparascopy a month ago, could the general anasthetic trigger a food allergy? no medication taken after op

A member asked:

Can medications/supplements cause a food allergy? broke out in hives after eating a bread, never had a problem before i started supplement. same thing happened a few months ago with a different vitamin/food combo. allergy went away after stopping med

A member asked:

What r chances an adult w/no known food allergies will develp one? does having drug allergies increase a person's chances?

A member asked:

I have a hiccup due to food allergy. what over-the-counter drug can give me some relief for this?

A member asked:

I'm afraid to eat fish because i've read adults are often allergic to it. i have no food allergies but have many drug allergies and celiac. risky?

A member asked:

Need advice on what is the the difference between having a food intolerance and having a food allergy?

A member asked:

When you have a food allergy what does the rash look like and can the rash be anywhere on the body?

A member asked:

What is the medical term for a food allergy?

A member asked:

Is my baby having a food allergy if he has sniffles all the time?

A member asked:

Are food allergies considered a disability?

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