| Food allergies are due to IgE antibodies are made for | | | | swelling, wheezing or difficulty breathing, rash or |
| specific foods that an individual has for some reason | | | | hives, and if severe, shock resulting in death if not |
| developed because their body has misinterpreted the | | | | reversed. Vomiting and diarrhea may occur but are |
| food(s) as a foreign invading protein. The presence | | | | less common.Testing for the presence of allergy to a |
| of IgE antibody to the specific food a person is | | | | food or foods can be done by blood test or skin |
| allergic to results in an immediate immune reaction of | | | | testing or both. One of the most common blood |
| the body to food when it is eaten. The IgE antibody | | | | tests is the RAST test that looks for presence of |
| binds its specific food protein and initiates reactions in | | | | the specific IgE antibodies to common food allergens |
| the body that include the release of chemicals such | | | | and others ordered tested based on because of |
| as histamine that may result in symptoms of itching, | | | | history of suggesting a particular food is suspect. |