Food Allergies

What is a food allergy?

The prevalence of food allergies rises annually. So, the chances are high that you know someone with a food allergy or you have one yourself.

A food allergy is an immune disorder that occurs when your body interprets something you eat as an attack on your immune system. Because your body believes the food you ate is a hazard, it responds by emitting histamines and other allergy proteins that produce allergic symptoms.

What common foods cause allergies?

An allergic reaction can occur after you consume any food. Common triggers for food allergies include:

• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Soy
• Shellfish
• Fish
• Eggs
• Sesame

Less common allergic triggers include various other legumes, seeds, and meats, and numerous additional foods.

What are the symptoms of food allergies?

If you do consume food that triggers an allergic reaction, the symptoms can range from very mild to severe. Symptom severity depends on many factors, but most importantly is determined by the type of food allergy you have. Dr. Meth and Dr. Feuille offer thorough evaluations and comprehensive testing to help you understand what foods you may be allergic to and what type(s) of food allergy you may have to these foods.  

Your allergic reaction to a food trigger may include the following digestive symptoms:

• An inability to swallow
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Gut pain
• Stomach cramps

Dermatologic and respiratory symptoms from an allergic reaction to food include:

• Itching
• Hives
• Rashes
• Trouble breathing
• Repetitive sneezing

If your symptoms overwhelm you emotionally or breathing becomes difficult, you may also experience panic. Panicking can exacerbate your symptoms, so do your best to remain calm and seek medical attention immediately.

Can a food allergy be treated? 

Food allergy treatments vary depending on the type of food allergy you have. For most food allergies, the widely accepted and recommended treatment approach is to:

• Clarify which foods you are allergic to with skin tests and feeding tests (also called "food challenges")
• Strictly avoid the foods you are allergic to
• Monitor over time for resolution or progression of food allergies with interval testing 
• Carry and use medications to mitigate allergy symptoms when you may accidentally eat trigger foods.
• As of February 2024, Xolair is approved for treatment of food allergy. Xolair is an injectable medication given every 2-4 weeks to reduce likelihood of reactions to small amounts of a culprit food that may be accidentally ingested. It can also be used alongside oral immunotherapy to enhance safety.

What about oral immunotherapy (desensitization) for food allergy? 

Food allergy immunotherapy (also known as "desensitization") can reduce allergic symptoms of certain types of food allergy. Dr. Feuille offers a form of food allergy immunotherapy called "oral immunotherapy", in which eating tiny amounts of the trigger food on a daily basis retrains your immune system to be less allergic to the food.

Immunotherapy for food allergy is far from being a perfect, one-size-fits-all solution for food allergies. Dr. Feuille has the expert-level knowledge to help each patient and family understand the limitations and the benefits of food allergy immunotherapies. She enjoys working with her patients to tailor a treatment approach that fits with each patient's comfort level and lifestyle, and makes herself available to support families and patients as they embark on their food allergy immunotherapy journey. 

In February 2024, Xolair (an injectable medication given every 2 to 4 weeks that blunts allergic responses) was approved for food allergy. Using Xolair alongside oral immunotherapy lessens side effects of oral immunotherapy and improves its safety. As part of a personalized approach to oral immunotherapy, Dr. Feuille can help you decide whether adding Xolair to your oral immunotherapy protocol is the right choice for you.

Having worked with thousands of patients in the West Los Angeles cities of Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, and West Hollywood, Drs. Meth and Feuille understands how frustrating and irritating food allergies can be. Call the office in Los Angeles or use the button below to book your appointment online.