Nineteen percent of US adult account having one or more intellectual nourishment allergies – yet , a fiddling more than one in 10 actually do . That ’s grant to a report recently published in the open - approach journalJAMA connection Open .
This imply that almost half of all people with a report food allergic reaction are misinterpreting their symptom , the investigator say . A squad at Northwestern University came to this end after asking a nationally representative sample of more than 40,000 hoi polloi to list and describe their food allergy .
What ’s more , the researchers happen that only half of those with a solid food allergy had a diagnosis substantiate by a doctor . Even less ( fewer than a quartern ) had an ongoing epinephrine prescription medicine .
So , what exactly is going on here ? Lead author Ruchi Gupta , a professor of pedology at Northwestern University ’s Feinberg School of Medicine , mistrust that many masses who say they are supersensitized are actually suffering from something like a intellectual nourishment intolerance .
" While we found that one in 10 adults have a food allergy , well-nigh twice as many adult imagine that they are hypersensitive to nutrient , while their symptom may hint food intolerance or other food - related conditions , " Gupta said in astatement .
To be considered a " convincing " food allergy , a respondent had to list one or more of the follow symptoms : hives , well up , difficultness swallowing , throat tightening , chest tightening , worry ventilation , wheezing , vomiting , breast pain , speedy heart rate , fainting or feeling light - headed , and low descent press . A food allergy is broadly speaking considered to be more severe than an intolerance and can , in a speculative - case scenario , induction anaphylaxis and death .
In contrast , intolerances ( although uncomfortable ) are not life - threatening . You may even be able-bodied to eat small quantity of the food without hassle too many unpleasant symptom . Speaking of which , most symptoms relate with intellectual nourishment intolerances are limited to the gut and digestion . Think IBS and bloating .
Another discovery that discover the researchers was the remarkably mellow number of multitude who reporteddeveloping an allergic reaction in maturity . In fact , almost one-half of adults with a food allergic reaction acquired one or more after their 18th natal day .
“ More research is require to understand why this is occurring and how we might keep it , ” Gupta said .
The sketch also reveals what character of food for thought allergy are most rough-cut in the US – and shellfish top the inclination . Approximately 7.2 million adults have an allergic reaction to shellfish . This is followed by Milk River ( 4.7 million ) , peanut ( 4.5 million ) , and tree diagram addict ( 3 million ) . Finfish ( 2.2 million ) , egg ( 2 million ) , wheat berry ( 2 million ) , soya ( 1.5 million ) , and sesame ( 0.5 million ) are also frequently reported .
The moral of the story ? It ’s always a adept estimation to get a second ( and professional ) opinion . A MD can run run to substantiate or decline your suspicions – and advise you how to manage your shape if it is an allergy .
“ It is important to see a doctor for appropriate examination and diagnosis before completely eliminating solid food from the dieting , ” Guptaadded .
“ If food allergy is sustain , infer the management is also critical , include recognizing symptoms of anaphylaxis and how and when to utilise epinephrine . ”
Of course , if you suspect you are allergic to nuts , it is better to obviate them until you could be test than chance your health for the interest of a monkey nut butter sandwich .
