Diagnosis and management of food allergy

Food allergy affects 8% of children under 3 years of age and roughly 2% of the adult population. Major targets include cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and respiratory organs. Clinicians must recognize the spectrum of food allergy in order for these patients to be diagnosed accurately and managed. IgE-mediated reactions can progress rapidly, and severe reactions are often associated with refractory bronchoconstriction. IgE-mediated allergic patients should be equipped with education, an emergency action plan, and injectable epinephrine to aggressively treat food-induced reactions and prevent fatalities. © 2001, Current Science Inc.