Food Allergies Specialist
-
- Tweet
Premier Allergy Asthma & Immunology, PLLC
Allergy & Immunology Practice serving Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ, and the surrounding areas
Food allergies force you to constantly monitor what you or your child eat, and they put you at risk of having a life-threatening allergic reaction. At Premier Allergy Asthma & Immunology, PLLC, Kiranjit Khalsa, MD, MPH, helps you live a safe and healthy life with dietary support and today's most advanced treatment, oral immunotherapy. Dr. Khalsa is a certified provider of Palforzia®, the first federally approved oral immunotherapy for peanut allergies. To get exceptional care for food allergies, call the office in Scottsdale, Arizona, or book an appointment online today.
Food Allergies Q&A
What causes food allergies?
Food allergies begin when your immune system mistakenly identifies a protein as a harmful substance. Your immune system makes antibodies for the protein.
Then every time you consume foods, beverages, or medicines containing that specific protein, your immune system triggers an allergic response.
Though you can develop an allergy to any food, most are caused by:
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Milk
- Eggs
- Wheat
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Soy
Children may outgrow some food allergies, but peanut, tree nut, and shellfish allergies tend to stay with them through their adult years.
What symptoms occur due to a food allergy?
Gastrointestinal distress represents the most common reaction, but food allergies can cause many symptoms, including:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Itchy mouth or ears
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Wheezing
- Hives
- Skin rash
Your symptoms usually appear within a few minutes to two hours of consuming the protein responsible for your food allergy.
Do food allergies cause a severe allergic reaction?
Food allergies put you at risk of having a serious reaction called anaphylaxis. Any food could lead to anaphylaxis, but peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, and shellfish most often cause this life-threatening response.
Anaphylaxis causes rapid symptoms such as swelling in your lips, tongue, and throat; nausea; difficulty breathing; and fainting. If you have an anaphylactic reaction, you need an immediate injection of epinephrine and emergency medical attention.
How are food allergies treated?
The primary treatment for most food allergies involves eliminating all sources of the protein from your diet.
Dr. Khalsa begins with allergy testing to identify your specific allergen. Then she helps you learn which products you need to avoid. She also prescribes self-injecting epinephrine and teaches you how to use it to stop anaphylaxis.
Dr. Khalsa offers an advanced food allergy treatment called oral immunotherapy. During oral immunotherapy, you regularly consume the protein, beginning with a tiny dose and gradually increasing the amount you take. Eventually, your immune system becomes desensitized and stops causing an allergic response.
In 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration approved an immunotherapy product called Palforzia®. A peanut-based powder, Palforzia reduces the severity of peanut allergy symptoms in children 4-17 years old. This treatment is only available through certified providers such as Dr. Khalsa.
As soon as you suspect a food allergy, call Premier Allergy Asthma & Immunology, PLLC, or book an appointment online today.
