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Food Allergy Testing in Lawrenceville GA

Food Allergy Testing in Lawrenceville GA

In Pain from a Food Allergy? Finding and Avoiding the Root Cause of Your Food Allergy is Essential for You to be Healthy. The Allergy and Asthma Center Offers Food Testing in Lawrenceville, GA to Diagnose and Help Cure Your Allergies So You Can Carry On Being Healthy. Call Allergy & Asthma Center to Schedule an Appointment Today!

Food Allergy Testing in Lawrenceville GA
Food Allergy Testing in Lawrenceville GA

Table of Contents:

What are the symptoms of a food allergy?
Should I get tested for a food allergy?
Is a food sensitivity the same thing as a food allergy?
How are food allergies tested?

Food allergies can be scary, unpredictable, and frustrating. It is important to get tested if you develop worrisome symptoms from eating certain foods. At Allergy and Asthma Center, our allergists are committed to providing excellent food allergy testing for patients of all ages so you can eat and feel healthy.

What are the symptoms of a food allergy?


The signs and symptoms of a food allergy can range from uncomfortable but not severe to severe and life-threatening, in the case of anaphylaxis. For the non-severe variety of symptoms, the following are commonly experienced:

– Tingling or itching in the mouth
– Hives, rashes, or eczema
– Abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting
– Dizziness and light-headedness
– Swelling in the lips, face, tongue, or throat

If you are experiencing anaphylaxis, it is critical that you immediately go to your nearest emergency room. The life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

– Constricted airways
– Swelling in the throat that makes breathing difficult
– State of shock and critical drop in blood pressure
– Rapid pulse

Dizziness or light-headedness that leads to a loss of consciousness
Anaphylaxis is an immediate hypersensitive allergic reaction that is rapid in onset. It usually requires the injection of epinephrine with an EpiPen, which most individuals with such allergies carry on their person.

Should I get tested for a food allergy?


If there are certain foods that consistently give you trouble and seem to trigger the symptoms mentioned above, it is likely a good idea to get tested for a food allergy to find out what exactly it is about the food that triggers the reaction. A food allergy test can also help differentiate a food allergy from a food sensitivity.

Is a food sensitivity the same thing as a food allergy?


The difference between a food allergy and a food sensitivity is that the former is caused by an adverse reaction in the immune system, while the latter is caused by an adverse reaction in the digestive system. Thus, food allergies can feasibly be life-threatening, while food sensitivities are very unlikely to escalate into a life-threatening emergency. That said, food sensitivities are a significant health issue that should not be treated flippantly, but they are not as serious as food allergies.

How are food allergies tested?


To test for a food allergy, there are multiple ways for allergists to attain an accurate diagnosis. The following are the four main types of testing that allergists use to either confirm or rule out a food allergy:

Skin test: A small amount of the food suspected to be an allergen to you is placed on your forearm or back before the allergist pricks the skin in that area. If you are allergic to that specific food, that area will begin to swell and a raised bump will appear.

Blood test: Blood tests measure the amount of immunoglobin E (IgE) antibodies that are produced in your body. Your body produces these antibodies when you have an allergic reaction. During the test, your blood is drawn into a vial and analyzed in a lab to determine if you are allergic to a certain food or not.

Oral challenge: The allergist gives you small and controlled amounts of the food suspected to trigger the allergic reaction. If you do not have an allergic reaction during the test, the suspected allergy is likely ruled out.

Elimination diet: This testing involves removing certain suspected foods from your diet for a week or two before adding them back one at a time into your diet. This method helps you and your allergist decipher which foods are linked to your symptoms and which are not. However, this method is not effective for differentiating between a food allergy and a food sensitivity.

If you would like to learn more about our food allergy testing services at Allergy and Asthma Center in Lawrenceville, GA or would like to book an appointment with us, we would be love to hear from you! You can either book an appointment on our website or you can call us! Our Lawrenceville clinic is located at 565 Old Norcross Rd and is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

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Lawrenceville, GA

  • 565 Old Norcross Rd. Lawrenceville, GA, 30046
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Atlanta, GA

Conyers, GA

  • 1755 Parker Rd, Suite A120 Conyers, GA, 30094
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