Food Allergies Require Proper Diagnoses
Assumptions About Allergic Symptoms Affect Quality of Life
Dec 18, 2008
Food allergies are a medical issue that are both overrated and underrated. A research study published by Deutsches Arzteblatt International, states that 10% to 20% of the population sees itself as suffering from food allergy. Genuine food allergy is suspected by patients and the doctors more often than actually exists. Conversely, undiagnosed food allergy may have life-threatening consequences if a sudden anaphylactic reaction occurs.
Improper Assumptions Affect Quality of Life
The lack of an accurate diagnosis prevents the patient from getting proper treatment and can have a negative impact on his quality of life. If a food allergy is suspected, a referral to a qualified allergist should be made so the patient and doctors know what they are dealing with.
A patient's quality of life can be negatively affected if he believes he has a food allergy when he does not. People who think they have an allergy may restrict their diet needlessly. They also may experience anxiety about their condition, fearing to eat certain foods.
An undiagnosed food allergy or an allergy that has not been taken seriously can become a life threatening condition unexpectedly. Allergies can suddenly manifest themselves in anaphylaxis, a life threatening reaction.
The study underscored the importance of diagnosing a condition that mimics food allergy. The patient should be informed about his immune condition. Whether the condition is allergic, sensitivity or another immune response, the patient can best deal with it by knowing what is causing the symptoms.
Food Allergy Symptoms
Symptoms of food allergy may include uticara (hives), gastrointestinal symptoms, asthma like symptoms and potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.
Research Study
Researchers in the study analyzed 419 patients that had been referred to an allergy clinic for suspected food allergies. After a thorough evaluation it was discovered that 214 (51.1%) of these patients had food allergies.
The authors of the study concluded that only a comprehensive evaluation by an experienced allergist can confirm or rule out diagnoses of food allergy.
Diagnoses Needed for Proper Treatment
Doctors who recommend that patients restrict their diets for a suspected allergy are doing the patient a disservice. The patient needs to have a qualified diagnosis. If the evaluation confirms a food allergy, the allergist can make qualified recommendations about what foods to eat and what to avoid. If the symptoms have another cause, the patient deserves to know that too, so the proper treatment can be sought.
Moreover, a person with bothersome symptoms should not assume that it is or is not an allergy based upon assumptions based on something read or by hearsay. If the family physician does not offer proper diagnostics than the opinion of a qualified allergist should be sought.
The bottom line is that proper treatment requires correct diagnosis. People with symptoms of allergy should not just assume that they know what is causing the problem. Proper testing and diagnosis is an essential step to determining the proper treatment.
Resources
Food Allergies: Overestimated and Underestimated, Cornelia S. Seitz et al., allergologists from Wurzberg University in Germany, published in Deutsches Arzteblatt International.
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