Food allergies can cause symptoms of varying types and severity. These can be mild symptoms such as itching in the mouth and throat immediately after ingesting the food, or they can be general allergic reactions with hives, swelling or acute gastrointestinal symptoms. In the worst cases, food allergy can trigger a life-threatening acute reaction, known as anaphylaxis, which can lead to life-threatening respiratory distress or shock with a drop in blood pressure, fainting and circulatory collapse.
If food allergy is suspected, it is important to identify what can trigger dangerous reactions and what is not dangerous for the patient. Information and advice is the most important aspect of food allergy, as the allergy is often untreatable.
Investigation of complicated food allergy with provocation testing is usually only done in allergy clinics in hospitals where the right preparedness and precautions are in place.