Understanding Food Allergies and Intolerances with Dr. Helen Evans-Howells

Differentiating Allergy, Intolerance, and Sensitivity

• 💡 Allergy is defined as a reproducible adverse reaction involving the immune system, often presenting with rapid symptoms like hives, swelling, or anaphylaxis (IgE-mediated).
• 🧠 Non-IgE mediated allergies and conditions like Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) and Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) can present with delayed gut symptoms, vomiting, or food getting stuck, and are often overlooked.
• ⚠️ Intolerance is a reproducible adverse reaction that does not involve the immune system, with mechanisms often unknown, while sensitivity is a more general term for a food not agreeing with you.
• ❓ Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition distinct from traditional allergy but shares the inability to tolerate gluten, with non-celiac gluten hypersensitivity also presenting significant symptoms.

Symptoms and Environmental Triggers

• ⚡ Fatigue can be a significant symptom of environmental allergies, such as house dust mite or pollen allergies, impacting sleep quality and overall well-being.
• 🤧 Common environmental allergens include house dust mites, pollens (grass, weed, tree), molds, and animal dander, with climate change potentially increasing weed pollen allergies.
• 🐶 Living with pets can exacerbate allergies, but strategies exist to manage symptoms while cohabiting, balancing harm versus the benefits of pet ownership.
• ⚠️ Severe allergies, particularly to animals, can trigger significant asthma attacks and impact daily life, sometimes necessitating difficult decisions.

The Rise of Allergies and Diagnostic Challenges

• 📈 Food allergies have doubled between 2008 and 2018, and while rates may have stabilized, they remain significantly higher than decades prior, affecting 5% of children and 1-2% of adults.
• 📚 Allergy education within healthcare is often insufficient, with limited undergraduate training and a need for increased awareness among GPs and other healthcare professionals.
• ✈️ Debates around