Food Allergy Specialist
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Magnolia Allergy and Asthma
Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Physician located in Dallas & Corsicana, TX
If you suspect that you or your child have a food allergy, don’t wait to get a thorough evaluation performed by Monica Sandhu, DO, at Magnolia Allergy and Asthma. Dr. Sandhu has extensive experience assessing your symptoms, performing food allergy testing, and helping families develop a plan to prevent a potentially severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. To schedule an appointment, call one of the offices in Dallas or Corsicana, Texas, or use the online booking feature.
Food Allergy Q&A
What should I know about food allergies?
You develop a food allergy when your immune system overreacts to a protein and labels it as a danger to your health. Once your immune system tags the protein with an antibody, the protein triggers an allergic reaction every time it enters your body.
Though you can have an allergy to any protein found in food, most food allergies are caused by:
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Milk
- Eggs
- Wheat
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Soy
Food allergies often appear before the age of two and then children outgrow them by adulthood, but there are some exceptions. Peanut allergies that begin in childhood tend to turn into a lifelong allergy. Additionally, 40% of fish allergies and 60% of shellfish allergies first develop in adults.
What symptoms develop if I have a food allergy?
Identifying food allergy symptoms can be tricky. They may appear within minutes of eating or be delayed for hours. You may not have the same symptoms every time you have an allergic reaction. Food allergy symptoms can affect your skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and/or cardiovascular system.
These are the most common symptoms caused by food allergies:
- Stomach pain
- Itchy mouth or ears
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Wheezing
- Hives
- Skin rash
Food allergies can cause anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction with symptoms such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling faint
- Feeling confused
- Swollen lips, tongue, and/or throat
- Chest pain
- Loss of consciousness
Anaphylaxis occurs rapidly and requires emergency medical attention.
How are food allergies treated?
Dr. Sandhu offers food allergy testing and determines if patients have a true allergy or food intolerance or sensitivity.
Since the only treatment currently available for a food allergy is to keep it out of your diet, Dr. Sandhu helps each patient develop a plan to avoid that food. She may also prescribe a self-injectable epinephrine pen that you can use if you have an anaphylactic reaction.
Though the US Food and Drug Administration recently approved a drug to help treat peanut allergies in children and adolescents between the ages of four and 17, these patients must continue to avoid peanuts. The medication only helps diminish the allergic reaction and prevent anaphylaxis if they’re accidentally exposed to peanuts.
If you suspect you have a food allergy, don’t wait to schedule an appointment at Magnolia Allergy and Asthma. Call one of the offices or book an appointment online today.
