FOOD ALLERGY TESTING SPECIALISTS
Food allergies are protein-induced reactions that can be life threatening, and affect approximately 3-5% of Americans. Due to their complexity, accurate diagnosis requires testing in a medically-supervised environment to safely identify the cause and treat the patient.
Common food allergies tested and managed at the Arizona Asthma and Allergy Institute:
1. Anaphylaxis
Immediate IgE mediated reactions to a food protein resulting in full body hives, swelling of the throat, wheezing, and hypotension.
2. Oral Allergy Syndrome
Immediate IgE mediated reaction to pollen cross-reactive proteins commonly found in raw fruits and vegetables. Patients present with itchy mouth and/ or swelling of the throat after eating raw fruit or vegetables like melons.
3. Eosinophilic Disorders
Immediate IgE mediated or Delayed T-Cell mediated reactions to food proteins causing eosinophilic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in failure to thrive in early childhood and dysphagia in children and adults.
4. Gluten Enteropathy
IgA mediated reactions to gliadin and tissue transglutaminase in association with gluten consumption resulting in malabsorption presenting as chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive, rash, arthritis and diseases resulting from malabsorption (anemia, osteoporosis, etc).
5. Food Associated Atopic Dermatitis
Immediate IgE mediated or Delayed T-cell mediated reactions to food proteins resulting in recalcitrant atopic dermatitis.
6. Food Protein Induced Enterocolysis Syndrome (FPIES)
Presumed immune mediated reaction to foods presenting in the first six months of life, resulting in projectile vomiting and hypotension.
7. Food Protein Associated Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis during exercise initiated within 3 hours of eating a specific food.
Examples of Food Allergies
1. Anaphylaxis
A child consumes peanut and develops immediate diarrhea, vomiting, wheezing, and full body hives prompting an emergency room visit.
2. Oral Allergy Syndrome
A teenager with significant, seasonal nasal itching, sneezing, and congestion develops an itchy mouth and a sensation of swelling of the throat when eating fresh bananas. If the teen eats banana bread there are no symptoms. The patient is highly allergic to ragweed on allergy testing and negative to banana. The reaction is a cross-reactivity between ragweed and banana.
3. Eosinophilic Disorders
A one-year old child with eczema has not gained weight or grown for six months. A sixteen-year old with seasonal allergies and asthma presents to the E.R. with a fourth episode of food impaction.
4. Gluten Enteropathy
A thirty year old woman with six months of watery, foul smelling stools and weight loss develops a new rash.
5. Food Associated Atopic Dermatitis
An eight month old infant presents with severe persistent dermatitis that improves after mom switches from milk to soy formula.
6. Food Protein Induced Enterocolysis Syndrome (FPIES)
A six-month old is brought to the clinic with vomiting, pallor, and listlessness three hours after eating rice cereal for the first time.
7. FOOD PROTEIN ASSOCIATED EXERCISE INDUCED ANAPHYLAXIS
A tri-athlete eats celery before beginning a fifty mile bike ride. Within fifteen minutes of the ride, the patient develops full body hives, wheezing and becomes light headed. The next day the patient eats celery without difficulty. Two days later the tri-athlete begins a ten mile run without problems. One week later the tri-athlete eats celery and peanut butter and then starts a swim. Ten minutes into the swim, the athlete develops full body hives, swelling of the throat and light headedness.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM A FOOD ALLERGY OR FOOD INTOLERANCE, PLEASE CONTACT OUR NEAREST OFFICE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON FOOD SENSITIVITY TESTING.
The Arizona Asthma & Allergy Institute’s Board-Certified Allergists / Immunologists use the most current methods to diagnose, manage and test for food allergies, including:
- Immediate hypersensitivity skin testing
- Atopy Food Patch testing
- IgE Immunoassays (CAP-RAST) testing
- Oral Challenges
- Pharmacologic Management
- Extensive Patient Education Resources
Interested in making an appointment for food sensitivity testing? With allergy testing locations all across the Phoenix Valley, you can find a location that’s convenient for you.
