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Food allergy: Can it develop later in life?
By Mayo Clinic staff
- With Mayo Clinic asthma and allergy specialist
James T. Li, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
James T. Li, M.D.
James T. Li, M.D.
"People with allergy or asthma can lead full and healthy lives." — Dr. James Li
Dr. Li is chair of the Division of Allergic Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine and a board-certified asthma and allergy specialist. He hopes his expertise and the information on the site educates health care consumers in an area of rapid change both in medications and diagnoses.
"There are a lot of misperceptions about allergy and asthma," says Dr. Li, a New York City native who has been with Mayo since 1985 and works with a group of subspecialists in allergy, asthma and immunology. "I believe it's important to provide truthful, accurate information about allergy and asthma to the public. The more people know, the better they can take care of these conditions."
Dr. Li is a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He is a past director of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and is a director of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. He is a fellow in the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and is a director of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology honored him with the Distinguished Service Award and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology with its Special Recognition Award.
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Question
Food allergy: Can it develop later in life?
Is it possible to develop a food allergy as an adult? On two separate occasions in the last few months, I've developed bad stomach pains and itchy hives after eating shellfish. This has never happened before.
Answer
from James T. Li, M.D.
Symptoms such as you describe may indicate a food allergy and shouldn't be ignored. Until you talk to your doctor, avoid eating any type of shellfish.
While most food allergies start in childhood, they can develop at any time in a person's life. So it's possible to develop a food allergy as an adult. It's not clear why or how this happens, but all allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless substance as a dangerous invader. When you eat the food you're allergic to, the immune system releases symptom-causing substances such as histamine. Food allergy signs and symptoms can include:
- Constriction and tightening of airways
- A swollen throat or a lump in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe
- Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure
- Rapid pulse
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
A number of conditions can cause adverse food reactions. Most are caused by a food intolerance rather than a true food allergy. Unlike a true food allergy, a food intolerance doesn't involve the immune system and may not be as severe. With a food intolerance, you may be able to eat small amounts of the offending food without trouble. But if you have a true food allergy, even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can cause symptoms. In any case, diagnosis is important because either condition may require treatment and avoidance of a certain food or foods.
If your doctor suspects you do have a food allergy, you may need tests to confirm the diagnosis. Even if you've had relatively mild food allergy symptoms in the past, subsequent reactions may be more severe and even life-threatening. You'll need to completely avoid the food, and you may need an emergency epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen, Twinject) to stop a severe or life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.
Next questionFood allergy vs. food intolerance: What's the difference?
- Nowak-Wegrzyn A, et al. Adverse reactions to foods. Medical Clinics of North America. 2006;90:97.
- Wrobel J. Food allergy in adults. Australian Family Practice Physician. 2008;37:22.
