Food Allergy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Food Allergy - Essay Example It is estimated that one child in every 14 children has at least one form of food allergy. The most common forms of food that most children are allergic to include: milk, eggs, soya, and wheat. Many children, however, outgrow this forms of allergy and by the time they go to school they go to school they are not allergic to foods that they were allergic to before. Skin-prick tests: this form of food allergy test provides results in about 20 minutes. This form of food allergy test involves placing of a liquid containing a small amount of the food allergen on the skin of one’s arm or back. The skin is then pricked, allowing the allergen to seep under the skin. The test is considered positive if a wheel (resembling a bump from a mosquito bite) develops where the allergen was placed. Blood tests: this form of testing of food allergy aims to measure the presence of IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies to specific foods. IgE is the antibody that triggers food allergy symptoms. Blood tests aims at detecting the food-specific IgE. The blood tests take several days to yield results. Oral Food Challenge. This form of food allergy test is considered highly accurate. The oral food challenge test consist of the allergist feeding the patient with the suspect food in measured doses so as to find out whether or not the patient will develop symptoms for food allergy. If the patient shows symptoms after the test, the test will be positive, and if the patient shows no symptoms the test will be considered negative. Food Elimination Diet: in this form of food testing, the doctor asks the patient to temporarily abstain from suspect foods for a period of two to four weeks. If the suspect foods were the ones causing the allergy, the patient will exhibit no symptoms, but if the eliminated, suspect foods, were not the ones responsible for the allergy the patient will still exhibit symptoms of food allergy. Treatments of Food