What should you know about jaffe food allergy institute?

Food allergy is an immune response to a food protein and can affect the skin, gut or breathing. A specialist usually asks what was eaten, how much, how quickly symptoms appeared, and whether the reaction repeated. Allergy testing may support the assessment, but a positive result does not automatically prove that a food causes symptoms. Never deliberately eat a suspected trigger at home to test yourself.

Bring a symptom diary, ingredient labels, medicine list and details of previous reactions. Ask for a written emergency plan that explains which symptoms require immediate action, how to use prescribed rescue medicine, and when to call emergency services. Read labels carefully, ask about cross-contact when eating away from home, and tell schools, carers and close relatives what to do.

Sudden breathing difficulty, throat tightness, swelling of the tongue or lips, widespread hives with vomiting, faintness or collapse may indicate anaphylaxis. Use prescribed emergency treatment according to your plan and call emergency services. Do not wait to see whether symptoms settle, and do not rely on an itchy throat alone to predict how severe a reaction will become.

Ask which foods should be avoided, whether testing is appropriate, how to distinguish allergy from intolerance, what emergency medicines you need, and how often your action plan should be reviewed.