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Food allergy

Last Updated: July 3, 2026

Key Points

  • Body reacts to specific foods
  • Symptoms range from mild to severe
  • Can affect skin, digestive, and respiratory systems
  • Requires strict food avoidance
  • Emergency medicine for severe reactions

Overview

A food allergy occurs when your body's immune system overreacts to certain foods, mistakenly identifying harmless proteins as a threat. This reaction can range from mild symptoms to very serious, life-threatening conditions. While the exact reason for this overreaction isn't fully understood, common triggers include cow's milk, peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. Managing a food allergy primarily involves strictly avoiding the foods that cause a reaction. For mild symptoms, antihistamines can help, while severe reactions require immediate use of an adrenaline auto-injector. Patients often receive an allergy management plan to guide their care and ensure safety.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Itchy skin or hives (raised rash)
  • Swelling of lips, face, or eyes (angioedema)
  • Coughing, wheezing, or breathlessness
  • Sneezing or an itchy, runny, or blocked nose
  • Feeling sick or vomiting
  • Tummy pain
  • Diarrhoea

Things That Increase the Risk

  • Family history of allergies
  • Personal history of asthma
  • Personal history of eczema
  • Allergy to common foods like cow's milk, peanuts, tree nuts, or shellfish

Diagnosis

  • GP assessment based on symptoms
  • Skin-prick test
  • Blood tests
  • Special elimination diet
  • Food and symptoms diary

Treatment & Management

  • Strict avoidance of trigger foods
  • Antihistamines for mild allergic reactions
  • Adrenaline auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPen) for severe reactions
  • Personalized allergy management plan
  • Immunotherapy for specific allergies (e.g., peanut)

Prevention

  • Carefully check food labels and restaurant menus
  • Inform friends, family, and staff about your allergy
  • Always carry two adrenaline auto-injectors if prescribed
  • Tell airlines and cabin staff about your allergy before flying
  • Wipe down public surfaces before eating
  • Do not eat foods without knowing their ingredients

Available Treatments

Explore our range of treatment options for Food allergy:

Food Allergy Treatment

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Contents

Quick Info

Affects

People of all ages

Prevalence

Common, severity varies

Diagnosis

Skin-prick test, blood tests

Treatment

Avoidance, antihistamines, auto-injectors

Medically Reviewed

Dr. Vijay Bhat

Dr. Vijay Bhat

Orthopedic Surgeon · Apollo Hospitals, Chennai

Reviewed on July 3, 2026

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