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This is a great starting point!
Let's review the correct answers!1. The correct definition of food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food. It involves allergic components of the immune system. Although many kiddos with food allergies do not like the taste of their allergen(s), disliking a food is not enough to call it an allergy. Also, while some foods can cause non-immune responses, like headaches, these symptoms are not due to allergy cells and, thus, not allergy symptoms.2. There are many types of food allergy disorders! These include:IgE-Mediated ("classic" or "anaphylactic") Food AllergyPollen-Food SyndromeEosinophilic EsophagitisFood Protein Induced Enterocolitis SyndromeFood-Dependent Exercise-Induced AnaphylaxisFood-Induced Flaring of Atopic DermatitisAllergic Contact DermatitisAlpha-Gal AllergyYou'll notice that lactose intolerance is not on this list. That's because lactose intolerance is the lack of the enzyme that digests milk - it is not an allergic disorder.3. and 4. Neither skin nor blood testing confirms whether a kiddo is allergic to a food! These tests can help allergists risk stratify patients regardling the likelihood of being allergic; however, it's the kiddo's clinical history, such as the reaction or lack there of during an ingestion challenge, that confirms the diagnosis.5. An ingestion challenge, also called an "oral food challenge" or an "open food challenge," is the gold standard for determining a patient's allergy status. This is a procedure performed in the allergist's office (not at home or school) under allergist supervision. During this procedure, the kiddo eats small, incrementally increasing amounts of the potential allergen. This is usually done in 3-6 doses with the goal amount to ingest being an average serving size for that age. 6. Oral immunotherapy ("OIT") is a treatment for food allergy. It is not a cure but can increase a kiddo's level of tolerance to the allergen. Most families set one of two goals: 1) "bite-proof," meaning they want their kiddo to be able to tolerate an accidental ingestion without reaction, but they are not set on the kiddo eating unlimited amounts of the allergen, or 2) "free-eat," meaning the kiddo can eat as much of the allergen as s/he would like. Before starting OIT, it's important for the allergist and the family to discuss goals of therapy.7. Epinephrine is the medication that treats all signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis. This is because the allergy cells responsible for anaphylaxis (called "mast cells") secrete more than histamine during a severe allergic reaction, so antihistamines do not comprehensively treat this reaction. Epinephrine combats all the signs and symptoms by working directly on organs, such as in the lungs, and by shutting down the mast cells so they stop releasing the reaction-inducing chemicals. Ibuprofen can actually lower the threshold to have anaphylaxis and is not a treatment for anaphylaxis. Way to go!Not only have you completed the quiz but you also read through the explanations and are now an even more informed parent.Why is being food allergy informed so very important for your family?Perhaps Little Sweetpea has had food allergy for years.Y’all have dealt with food allergy for years though every year seems to come with new challenges. And now there are therapies for food allergy. You may be wondering what treatment really may look like.Or maybe you have a pro-active allergist who recommends re-evaluating the food allergy with repeat testing. This may also mean an ingestion challenge, and you may be wondering about the safety of that type of procedure.And maybe you are hesitant to stay plugged in with other food allergy family groups, especially on social media, because of the stories you hear that you simply just don’t want filling your mind. But life does not have to be that way!Or perhaps food allergy is a new diagnosis to you and your family. For example, it may have been recently that your doctor told you, “Sweetpea is allergic to peanut so needs to avoid all peanut products, and I’ve sent a prescription for an EpiPen to your pharmacy.” While there probably was more to this conversation, it’s to be expected that this news may send your thoughts in many directions and very quickly. You may have thought:But it’s just a food… how can a food be so dangerous?But my child is healthy…Does this mean my child is allergic to other foods?Does this mean my child may develop other allergy conditions?Is there any treatment?What about school?What about holidays?What if…Thinking all of these thoughts is completely normal. It’s also normal to be angry, sad, and scared. You’ve probably heard the tragic stories about children having severe allergic reactions, and you’ve also probably seen from friends or family members or on social media how much anxiety and a change in lifestyle this diagnosis can bring. But life does not have to be that way either…Where ever you are on your journey, Food Allergy and Your Kiddo will provide you a solid foundation upon which to build your understanding of food allergy.Dr. Alice Hoyt is a board-certified allergist whose clinical practice focsues solely on food allergy, and Pam Lestage, MBA, is a food allergy mom who's been living the food allergy mom-life for over a decade. We are commited to providing our audience a solid foundation of what food allergy is, how it is diagnosed, and how it is managed. Nothing here is medical advice – that should only come from your kiddo’s allergist. Parents take what they learn with us and discuss this information with their kiddo's allergist. We are so glad you're here!Dr. Hoyt and Pam
