Dining Out With Food Allergies
If your child has one or more food allergies, dining out can be achallenge. However, it is possible to have a healthy and satisfyingdining-out experience it just takes some preparation and persistence onyour part.
The American Dietetics Association offers these tips for dealing with foodallergies when your family is eating away from home:
-
Know what ingredients are in the foods at the restaurant where you plan to eat. When possible, obtain a menu from the restaurant ahead of time and review the menu items.
-
Let your server know from the beginning about your child’s food allergy. He or she should know how each dish is prepared and what ingredients are used. Ask about preparation and ingredients before you order. If your server does not know this information or seems unsure of it, ask to speak to the manager or the chef.
-
Avoid buffet-style or family-style service, as there may be cross-contamination of foods from using the same utensils for different dishes.
-
Avoid fried foods, as the same oil may be used to fry several different foods.
Alternately, there are several types of allergy cards available on theinternet that can be customized with your child’s personal information. Oneexample is the Food Allergy Buddy Dining Card, promoted by the NationalRestaurant Association.
What Tests Help Diagnose A Peanut Allergy
Your healthcare provider may use a blood test to diagnose a peanut allergy. A blood test called an immunocap radioallergosorbent checks the number of antibodies in your blood. A higher number of certain types of antibodies can indicate an allergy.
Your healthcare provider may also use a skin test to identify or rule out multiple types of allergies. During a skin test, your provider:
- Makes a few tiny needle pricks in your back or arm.
- Applies small doses of different types of allergens where you have needle pricks.
- Montiors your skin reaction and interprets them after 15 minutes.
Skin patches that become red and itchy indicate an allergic response. Your provider can use this information to diagnose allergies.
You may also have an oral food challenge. During an oral food challenge, you eat tiny, increasing amounts of a peanut-based product in your healthcare providers office. Your healthcare provider has emergency medication and equipment on hand in case you have an allergic reaction.
Diagnosis Of Nut Allergies
If you have allergic symptoms, visit your doctor who will ask some questions about your allergic reactions. You can also discuss the diary record of your symptoms.
To diagnose your allergy, your doctor may refer you to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist who can test for allergies using a number of methods, depending on the type of potential allergy. To test for an allergy to peanuts, tree nuts and seeds, the specialist might:
- do a skin prick test
- do a blood test
- ask you to temporarily avoid all nuts or products containing nuts , then follow up with the introduction of nuts back into your diet under strict medical supervision.
Recommended Reading: What Are Common Fall Allergies
What Will Happen During The Oral Food Challenge
During the food challenge, your child will be given very small amounts of the specific food being tested. If tolerated, increasing amounts of the challenge food will be given with close observation at each stage.Your child will be observed for symptoms such as itching, rash, abdominal pain or difficulty breathing. If any symptoms develop, your child will be treated immediately. In most cases, this will involve the use of diphenhydramine and/or epinephrine to prevent any allergic reactions from getting worse. In studies of food challenges, many children develop mild symptoms during a food challenge that require these treatments. Very rarely, other treatments are needed for more serious reactions. In some cases, your doctor may decide to place an IV in your childs arm before the challenge starts. This would be used to give medicine if needed. In some cases, the food challenge is performed by masking the food to hide the taste, and using food that looks/tastes the same but does not contain the food being tested. This is called a placebo. These procedures reduce the possibility that we would misjudge a reaction to the food that could occur from fear or distaste of the new food.
Whats Involved With An Allergy Test
If you think you are allergic to peanuts, see an allergist. Start a food diary before the appointment and keep track of any reactions.
If youve never had a severe reaction, they might suggest whats called an elimination diet. You would cut out peanuts or other suspected foods for a week or longer. Then you would add them back in one at a time to see what might be causing you to react.
Your doctor may also do a skin test, placing a small amount of the food on you and then pricking it with a needle. If you are allergic to peanuts, you will develop a raised bump or reaction.
You may also need a blood test to check to see whether your immune system launches an allergic reaction to peanuts.
Recommended Reading: Does Elderberry Syrup Help With Allergies
Signs And Symptoms: Could Your Child Be Allergic To Peanuts
Depending on how sensitive your childs immune system is, any type of exposure to peanuts or peanut residue can trigger an allergic reaction, including:
- Eating peanuts or peanut butter
- Eating any food made with peanuts, which can happen accidentally
- Touching peanuts or peanut residue before putting their hands in their mouth or rubbing their eyes
- Breathing in peanut residue
If your child is having an allergic reaction to peanuts, you may notice:
- Itching or tingling in or around the mouth and throat
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can affect the whole body. Call 911 immediately if your child shows signs of anaphylaxis, such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling or closing of the throat
- Sudden drop in blood pressure
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
Several Ways To Come In Contact
Most people who are allergic have trouble when they have direct contact with peanuts — whether eating them by accident or not realizing they are part of a salad or recipe.
It can also happen through skin contact or by breathing in peanut dust or eating something made with gourmet or unrefined peanut oil.
But did you know that if you are very sensitive, indirect contact can trigger a reaction?
Its called cross-contact. For instance, a chef might be making a meal for you. It contains no peanuts, but they may have used their knife for an earlier task. If the knife touched peanuts and wasnt washed well, trace pieces could get into your dish.
Make sure any restaurant or dinner host is aware and taking care to avoid cross-contact.
Also Check: Can Allergies Make Your Lungs Hurt
How Long Does It Take For A Reaction To Start After Eating A Food
Symptoms usually start as soon as a few minutes after eating a food and as long as two hours after. In some cases, after the first symptoms go away, a second wave of symptoms comes back one to four hours later . This second wave is called a biphasic reaction. The risk of a biphasic reaction is why patients who have a severe reaction should stay at a hospital for four to six hours for observation.
Palforzia Peanut Allergy Treatment In New Orleans La
Dr. Reena Mehta is a board-certified allergist in New Orleans that can help you and your children overcome peanut allergies. Ask us about our new FDA approved Palforzia allergy immunotherapy treatment program for peanut allergies.
Im the parent of a son with multiple food allergies. When our son was first diagnosed, my wife and I consulted with multiple nationally know allergists. We were frustrated with the care we received and our lack of progress. We were then referred to Dr. Mehta who has been a godsendSince our son has been seeing Dr. Mehta, hes overcome several of his food allergies. There really is nothing like being able to eat out at restaurants with your child after packing all of his meals for a year.
Ravi Legha, 19-month old son Gavin, December 2018
Enrollment
Frequently Asked Questions
An allergic reaction to peanuts might occur in the below situations:
- You have a peanut allergy and you accidentally eat a peanut or any foods that contain raw, cooked, or processed peanuts
- You have a severe peanut allergy and share saliva with someone who ate peanuts either by kissing, sharing utensils, or sharing straws
- You are severely allergic to peanuts and have a reaction from simply inhaling peanut dust or peanut protein when someone cooks with peanuts
- You are allergic to peanuts and you touch peanuts or peanut butter
Read Also: Are Sinus Infections From Allergies Contagious
What Is The Difference Between Food Allergy And Food Intolerance
Food allergy is sometimes confused with food intolerance. Food allergies involve your immune system and can be life-threatening. An intolerance is when your body has trouble digesting a food. It can make you feel bad, usually with an upset stomach, but it is not life-threatening. The most common intolerance is to lactosewhich is a natural sugar found in milk.
Understanding Tree Nut Allergies: Symptoms Treatment And More
What is a tree nut allergy?
A tree nut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in both adults and children. Allergic reactions to tree nuts can range from mild to life-threatening. You may be allergic to just one type of tree nut, or you could be allergic to several. Examples of tree nuts include:
Being allergic to one type increases your risk for being allergic to others. Until your allergies are tested by your allergist-immunologist , you may be asked to avoid all tree nuts.
You May Like: Is Leather Furniture Better For Allergies
How To Safely Introduce Peanut Products To Your Child
After your baby is already eating other solid foods, you can safely introduce age-appropriate peanut-containing foods at 4 to 6 months, unless your child is at high risk.
High-risk children are those who have severe eczema, an egg allergy or both. In these cases, your child should be screened by a healthcare provider. That provider may complete a skin or blood test first to measure your childs reaction to tiny amounts of peanut products.
If your child has mild or moderate eczema, you may feel more comfortable asking your primary care provider before you introduce peanut-containing foods.
For babies at no risk: Bring on the peanut-containing foods just not a whole nut, as it can be a choking hazard. Read these instructions created by the expert panel.
How To Avoid A Reaction
If you know you have a severe peanut allergy, the best way to prevent anaphylaxis is to avoid them. Here are a few tips:
- Every time you shop, read food labels carefully. Packaged foods that contain peanuts are required to include them in the ingredients list.
- When you order food in restaurants, always let the server know that you have a peanut allergy. Ask for your food to be prepared without peanuts, peanut oil, and other peanut-based products.
- When traveling by plane, contact the airline and alert them to your allergy ahead of time. You can request that your flight be peanut-free and ask to have your seat cleaned.
As a precaution, always keep an epinephrine auto-injector nearby. This medication can reverse the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction, but you have to use it quickly for it to be effective.
During a delayed reaction, you may need to administer a second and possibly third dose of epinephrine. See your allergist to learn how to use the auto-injector correctly.
After you inject epinephrine and your symptoms stabilize, go to an emergency room for treatment. Always get medical help to prevent another reaction.
Don’t Miss: Can You Be Born With Allergies
Unproven Methods To Test For Allergies
A number of methods claim to test for allergies but have not been medically or scientifically proven. They can be costly and could lead to dangerous avoidance of certain foods. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy recommends that you do not use non evidence-based methods to have potential allergies tested. These methods include:
- cytotoxic food testing
Always speak with your doctor if you are thinking of using a complementary medicine or therapy for allergies.
Symptoms And Signs Of Anaphylaxis
The initial manifestation of anaphylaxis may be loss of consciousness. Patients often describe “a sense of doom.” In this instance, the symptoms and signs of anaphylaxis are isolated to one organ system, but since anaphylaxis is a systemic event, in the vast majority of subjects two or more systems are involved.
Gastro-intestinal: Abdominal pain, hyperperistalsis with faecal urgency or incontinence, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Oral: Pruritus of lips, tongue and palate, edema of lips and tongue.
Respiratory: Upper airway obstruction from angioedema of the tongue, oropharynx or larynx bronchospasm, chest tightness, cough, wheezing rhinitis, sneezing, congestion, rhinorrhea.
Cutaneous: Diffuse erythema, flushing, urticaria, pruritus, angioedema.
Cardiovascular: Faintness, hypotension, arrhythmias, hypovolemic shock, syncope, chest pain.
Ocular: Periorbital edema, erythema, conjunctival erythema, tearing.
Genito-urinary: Uterine cramps, urinary urgency or incontinence.
Severe initial symptoms develop rapidly, reaching peak severity within 3-30 minutes. There may occasionally be a quiescent period of 18 hours before the development of a second reaction . Protracted anaphylaxis may occur, with symptoms persisting for days. Death may occur within minutes but rarely has been reported to occur days to weeks after the initial anaphylactic event.
You May Like: What Allergy Medicine Is Okay To Take While Pregnant
At What Age Do Peanut Allergies Develop Can A Child Develop A Peanut Allergy Suddenly
Like other food allergies, peanut allergy is most common in younger children, especially infants and toddlers. But, a peanut allergy can develop at any age even in adulthood. Some children may have contact with peanuts multiple times without symptoms before their immune system responds with an allergic reaction.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Tree Nut Allergy
If youre allergic to tree nuts and exposed to them, you may develop symptoms of an allergic reaction. In some cases, these symptoms will appear within minutes and be severe. In other cases, it may take 30 minutes to a few hours before symptoms begin.
Symptoms of a tree nut allergy may include:
- abdominal pain, including cramping and upset stomach
- itching of the mouth, throat, skin, eyes, hands, or other body regions
- shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
Anaphylaxis is rare, but its the most severe form of allergic response. In the case of anaphylaxis, a person with an allergy will typically begin experiencing symptoms within 5 to 30 minutes of exposure to the tree nut. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
- a red rash with hives or welts
Peanut, shellfish, and tree nut allergies are among the most common causes of anaphylaxis. People with a severe tree nut allergy should always be prepared to respond to an allergic reaction. You should always keep an epinephrine auto-injector with you. Common brands of auto-injectors include EpiPen, Adrenaclick, and Auvi-Q.
Its important to know the risk factors associated with tree nut allergies. Here are some common risk factors.
Don’t Miss: How Long Does A Food Allergy Rash Last
Tree Nut Allergy: Symptoms Testing And Treatment
Tree nut allergy is one of the most common allergies found in children and adults. Once diagnosed, a tree nut allergy can be lifelong. Only 9 percent of children will naturally outgrow their tree nut allergy by the time they are adults.
Often confused with a peanut allergy , a tree nut allergy is triggered by proteins found in nuts such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, and pine nuts. Between 2540 percent of those with a peanut allergy are also allergic to at least one type of tree nut. And similar to a peanut allergy, during an allergic reaction to a tree nut, food proteins bind to IgE antibodies, triggering an immune system response that results in a wide range of mild to severe reactions.
Is A Peanut Allergy And A Peanut Butter Allergy The Same Thing
They are very much the same. A peanut allergy is simply a sensitivity to peanuts, whereas a peanut butter allergy involves a person’s reaction to an item that contains peanuts.
Peanut allergies come about through both genetic and environmental factors if your child has any immediate family with peanut allergies than the chances of having this peanut intolerance greatly increase.
If you are excited to introduce peanuts into your baby’s diet, take it one step at a time and make sure you adhere to the signs of peanut allergies in babies before introducing any other types of nuts or products containing peanuts.
People who are allergic to peanuts may not be allergic to other nuts. Peanuts, despite their misleading name, are a legume and not a nut. Other true nuts grow on trees, but peanuts are seeds.
Recommended Reading: What Is Total Ige Allergy Test
When To Seek Medical Advice
If you think you or your child may have a food allergy, it’s very important to ask for a professional diagnosis from your GP. They can then refer you to an allergy clinic if appropriate.
Many parents mistakenly assume their child has a food allergy when their symptoms are actually caused by a completely different condition.
Commercial allergy testing kits are available, but using them isn’t recommended. Many kits are based on unsound scientific principles. Even if they are reliable, you should have the results looked at by a health professional.
Read more about diagnosing food allergies.
Who Is At Risk And Why
Children — especially toddlers and infants — are more likely to develop food allergies.
If you or other family members have other types of allergies, peanuts could be a problem.
Also, if you have eczema, you may also be more likely to be allergic.
If you have peanut allergy, that doesnt have to mean you are more likely to have a problem with other nuts or legumes. Peanuts grow underground and are different from almonds, cashews, walnuts and other tree nuts.
But recent studies found that 25% to 40% of people who have peanut allergy are allergic to tree nuts, too.
Read Also: How To Calm Down Allergy Hives
