High Prevalence of Food Allergies among Children Younger to Boost Demand for Allergy Diagnostic and Treatment

 

Many people suffer from allergies. In fact, there are millions of people who suffer from allergic reactions to a variety of substances and foods on a daily basis. For instance, , according to the study, “A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of food allergies among children younger than ages 14 years in a Beijing urban region”, published in the journal Allergy & Asthma Proceedings, in January 2019, the total prevalence of probable food allergies in children aged less than 14 years of age in the Beijing urban area was 3.2%.

Unfortunately, not everyone who suffers from allergies is aware of their condition or the treatments available to them. For this reason, it is important to seek proper allergy diagnostic and treatment as soon as possible in order to prevent the conditions that can lead to further complications if left untreated. To accurately assess whether or not you have a food allergy, your physician will likely:

·        Ask you a series of questions designed to determine your sensitivities

·        Perform a full physical exam

·        Have you maintained a detailed diary of previous symptoms and potential triggers

·        Have blood tests performed

·        Have skin tests performed

·        You might even be required to take a blood test for confirmation

Once you know you do have allergies, your medical professional will then be able to correctly diagnose them. If your symptoms are consistent with food allergies, doctors will most likely recommend an avoidance diet in order to prevent further food allergies or other reactions. They may also prescribe daily pills to control your symptoms or provide an antihistamine to help reduce your histamine production.

The ultimate goal of allergy diagnostic and treatment is to eliminate the allergy symptoms. Combination medications used in the treatment of allergies include oral antihistamines, oral decongestants and nasal sprays to control the effects of allergens and their triggers. The underlying basis of successful allergy treatment lies in avoiding allergens that trigger symptoms, minimizing exposure to them, and then using immunotherapy to minimize the impact of the immune system on cells and tissues affected by allergies. Recently, at the end of January 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued approval for the first drug for peanut oral immunotherapy for the treatment of peanut allergy in 4- to 17-year old children.