Misdiagnosed food allergies

Introduction

If you eat something and then get sick, you usually assume that it is due to the food allergy. More than 25 % of Americans are convinced that they have food allergy but the real true is that 2.5 % of American population suffer from food allergy. Some conditions can resemble food allergy, and we will give you some basic guideline on these conditions. If you experience some of the symptoms, you should call your doctor for the advice and proper treatment.

Basic descriptions of some conditions that may resemble food allergies:

Lactose Intolerance is a deficiency of an enzyme that helps the body break down lactose sugar. That kind of sugar is found in cow`s milk and milk of a goat and sheep. Symptoms that indicate lactose intolerance are bloating, gassiness, diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress. Those symptoms appear after eating products that contain milk, though there is an exception, since some people who suffer from lactose intolerance can eat cheese, yogurt and dairy. Treatment of lactose intolerance consists of intake of enzymes that help body to break down lactose sugar. Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder whose main feature is inability to digest gluten, a protein that is found in rice, wheat and barley. Symptoms that are common for celiac disease are constipations, diarrhea and cramps, and they usually appear after eating food that contains gluten. The only possible treatment of celiac disease is gluten-free diet and, in some cases, steroids. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disorder of bowels, and people who suffer from it experience pain in abdomen area, diarrhea, and constipation. There are several treatment methods that can provide relief from IBS. Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, and symptoms that can appear besides diarrhea, are nausea and abdominal pain, as well as fever, irritation of the eyes and skin and rectal bleeding. Histamine Intolerance is a condition that does not have to develop from food. There are some people who have histamine in their body. Symptoms that are characteristic for histamine intolerance are headaches migraines, gastrointestinal symptoms, and hives, rhinitis and eczema, while the treatment consists of strict histamine diet. Food Poisoning from fish and shellfish is easy to diagnose in most cases. On the other hand, symptoms may be similar to the symptoms of allergies. Treatment for this kind of poisoning consists of IV fluids for dehydration and medications for the vomit treatment.