Food allergies impact nearly 50 million people each year in the United States. The symptoms can range from minor discomforts, such as tummy aches and diarrhea, to life-threatening reactions, like anaphylaxis. Dr. Manuel Torres, Family Medicine Physician at Baptist Health Primary Care, says it is a life threatening and serious issue. "Sometimes, you need to…...

Dr. Francisco Pernas, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, says an allergy is an inflammatory reaction the body incorrectly does for something that it shouldn't be reacting to. "It's basically an immune response that shouldn't be there." Stuffy or runny nose; sneezing; red, itchy, watery eyes; red, itchy, dry skin; hives or itchy welts; itchy…...

The allergy tests are skin tests, intradermal tests, challenge tests, and blood tests. Dr. Mario Zambrano, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician with Homestead Hospital, says if a young child has an allergy, they can do a blood allergy test to determine what can it be (milk, dust, mold, pet dander). He explains the skin test is…...

Dr. Francisco Pernas, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, explains you are not necessarily born with allergies, you can develop them as young child. "In the first year of life, kids typically do not have allergies. It's this immune system component that we haven't really identified yet, why some people are so pretty supposed to…...

Dr. Javier Hiriart, Pediatrician at Family Medicine Center at West Kendall Baptist Hospital explains that tests are really helpful in case to diagnose any allergy. The specialist describes the physician can order skin (little sticks in the arms) or blood tests in order to help to identify more specific triggers to the allergies such as…...

Dr. Francisco Pernas, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, says there are many ways of doing skin testing: they can do a scratch test, in which they scratch you with the antigen that they are testing, and they also can do the subcutaneous injection, using a small needle to inject some of that antigen underneath…...

Dr. Francisco Pernas, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, says allergies tend to run in families, because the immune system is something you inherit genetically. "If your parents had asthma, allergies, you're likely to maybe develop those as well." The most common allergens are pollen, mold, household dust, animal dander, food, medicine, feathers, and bug…...

Natalie Castro, Registered Dietitian at Baptist Health South Florida, says it is more common to develop an allergy because of the modified food. "We don't know what these processed foods are doing to the lining of our intestines, but we have been noticing an increase in allergens," she points out. She highlights the way we…...