Food Allergies

Adult & Pediatric Allergy and Immunology services offered in Houston, TX

Food Allergies services offered in Houston, TX

Between 4% and 6% of children and up to 4% of adults suffer from food allergies. Fortunately, there are various ways to avoid triggers and reduce flare-ups. At Complete Allergy and Asthma in Houston, Texas, allergy and immunology specialists Niti Chokshi, MD, and Brian Tison, MD, offer full-service treatment for food allergies, including food desensitization, food testing, and challenge tests. Call Complete Allergy and Asthma today to schedule treatment for food allergies, or book your appointment online.

Food Allergies Q&A

My tongue swells up after eating certain foods. Is it food allergies?

It’s very likely. Food allergies are caused by your immune system identifying a food like peanut butter as a harmful invader. Your body inappropriately reacts to these foods triggering an allergic reaction.

How are food allergies diagnosed?

At Complete Allergy and Asthma, the providers diagnose food allergies with in-office tests. They might recommend:

Skin test

This test determines how you react to a specific food. Your provider puts a small amount of food extract on your arm or back and pricks your skin with a needle. If your skin develops a welt or becomes itchy afterward, you’re allergic to that food.

Blood test

A blood test measures your immune system’s response to specific allergens. If your blood has higher-than-normal amounts of IgE antibodies to the food, it may indicate an allergy.

Oral food challenge

During an oral food challenge, your provider has you eat a small portion of a specific food in increasing amounts. After you ingest the food, your provider waits to see if you have an allergic reaction. If you don’t, you can include that food in your diet again. If you do, you will be treated in a safe environment and advised to avoid the food. Oral immunotherapy may be an option if you deemed allergic to the food.

How are food allergies treated?

Complete Allergy and Asthma offers several treatments not provided by other allergists, including:

Oral immunotherapy (OIT)

During OIT, you eat small amounts of allergy-causing foods each day. These doses help you build natural immunity, reducing the severity of allergy attacks.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)

SLIT is similar to OIT. The difference is that you put small, drops of food containing extracts under your tongue. The drops contain small amounts of allergens, allowing your body to build natural immunity over time.

Emergency epinephrine

If you have severe food allergies, Complete Allergy and Asthma prescribes an epinephrine injector. This device allows you to administer emergency epinephrine, a naturally occurring hormone that prevents anaphylaxis (a potentially life-threatening reaction).

Call Complete Allergy and Asthma today to schedule a food allergy consultation for yourself or your child, or book your appointment online.