Food Allergy Specialist in Silver Spring, Maryland
Food allergies can cause reactions ranging from mild itching and
hives to severe
anaphylaxis. At Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland in Silver Spring, Maryland, our team provides food allergy testing, evaluation, and personalized treatment for children and adults to identify triggers and develop an effective management plan.
What Is A Food Allergy?
A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to a protein in a food as though it were harmful.
When a person with a food allergy eats or is exposed to the triggering food, the immune system may release chemicals that cause symptoms affecting the skin, digestive system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, or multiple areas of the body.
Food allergies can affect both children and adults. Some people are allergic to a single food, while others may have allergies to several foods.
Common Food Allergens
Many different foods can cause allergic reactions. A patient's individual reaction history is an important part of determining whether testing is needed. Not every symptom that occurs after eating represents a true food allergy, which is why an accurate evaluation is important.
Common food allergens include:
- Cow's milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Wheat
- Soy
- Shellfish, including shrimp, crab, prawns, and lobster
- Fish, including cod, salmon, bass, snapper, and other species
- Tree nuts, including almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans, and hazelnuts
What Are the Symptoms of a Food Allergy?
Food allergy symptoms can vary from person to person and may affect several parts of the body. Symptoms may appear soon after eating a triggering food, although the timing and severity can vary.
Possible symptoms include:
- Hives
- Itching
- Tingling or itching around the mouth
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
Anaphylaxis & Food Allergies
Food allergies can sometimes cause anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can become life-threatening.
Anaphylaxis requires immediate emergency treatment.
Patients who have been diagnosed with a food allergy should understand their emergency action plan and know how to respond if a serious reaction occurs.
Symptoms may include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Throat or tongue swelling
- Significant wheezing
- Sudden weakness
- Dizziness or fainting
- A rapid change in symptoms involving multiple areas of the body
Food Allergy or Food Intolerance?
Food allergy and food intolerance are not the same. A true food allergy involves an immune-system reaction to a food protein. Food intolerance generally does not involve the same allergic immune response and may instead cause symptoms such as digestive discomfort, bloating, or other gastrointestinal concerns.
Because symptoms can sometimes overlap, evaluation by an allergist can help determine whether a suspected reaction is consistent with a food allergy and whether diagnostic testing is appropriate.
How Are Food Allergies Diagnosed?
Diagnosing a food allergy starts with a detailed medical history.
Our team may ask:
- Which foods you suspect
- What symptoms occurred
- How soon symptoms developed after eating
- How much of the food was consumed
- Whether the reaction has happened more than once
- Whether you have other allergic conditions such as asthma or eczema
- Whether the food has been eaten safely at other times
- Whether there is a family history of allergic disease
Food Allergy Testing
Skin Prick Testing
Skin prick testing may be used to evaluate sensitivity to suspected food allergens. Small amounts of selected allergens are introduced to the surface of the skin, and the area is observed for a reaction. Test results are interpreted together with the patient's clinical history rather than being used alone to diagnose a food allergy.
Blood Testing
Blood testing may be used to measure immune-system sensitization to specific foods. As with skin testing, blood-test results must be interpreted in the context of symptoms and reaction history. A positive allergy test does not always mean that eating a particular food will cause a clinical reaction.
Oral Food Challenge
An oral food challenge may be recommended when additional information is needed to determine whether a patient is truly allergic to a particular food.
During an oral food challenge, carefully measured portions of the suspected food are given in gradually increasing amounts while the patient is closely monitored by the medical team. Oral food challenges are performed in a medically supervised setting so that symptoms can be recognized and treated promptly if a reaction occurs. Patients should never attempt a food challenge on their own at home unless specifically instructed by their allergist.
Why Accurate Food Allergy Diagnosis Matters
An accurate diagnosis is important because unnecessarily avoiding foods can affect nutrition, quality of life, school activities, travel, dining, and family routines. At the same time, an unrecognized food allergy can place a patient at risk for future reactions.
Dr. Kalfa combines medical history and appropriate diagnostic testing to determine whether a suspected food allergy is likely and which foods truly need to be avoided. This individualized approach can help patients avoid unnecessary restrictions while maintaining appropriate precautions for confirmed allergies.
How Are Food Allergies Managed?
Food allergy management depends on the specific food, reaction history, test results, age, health history, and individual patient's needs. A management plan may include:
Avoiding Confirmed Allergens
Patients with confirmed food allergies generally need to avoid the foods known to trigger reactions. Our team can help patients and families understand which foods should be avoided and when additional precautions may be appropriate.
Reading Food Labels
Understanding ingredient labels is an important part of food allergy management. Patients and caregivers should become familiar with the names of their allergens and identify ingredients that may present a risk.
Preventing Accidental Exposure
Food allergens can sometimes be encountered through shared preparation surfaces, restaurant meals, school environments, or other unexpected exposures. Education about avoiding accidental exposure is an important part of long-term management.
Emergency Preparedness
Patients at risk for severe food allergy reactions should understand how to recognize symptoms and follow the emergency plan recommended by their healthcare provider.
Ongoing Follow-Up
Food allergies can change over time, particularly during childhood. Follow-up with an allergist can help determine whether repeat testing or additional evaluation may be appropriate.
Oral Immunotherapy for Food Allergies
Food allergy desensitization, also known as oral immunotherapy, may be an option for selected patients. Oral immunotherapy involves consuming carefully measured amounts of a specific food allergen according to a structured treatment plan. The amount is gradually adjusted under medical guidance with the goal of increasing the amount of allergen a patient can tolerate before experiencing a reaction.
For some patients, this may help reduce the risk associated with accidental exposure.
Oral immunotherapy is not appropriate for every patient and does not mean that a food allergy has necessarily been cured. Our team evaluates each patient's allergy history, testing results, overall health, goals, and risk factors before determining whether oral immunotherapy may be appropriate.
Food Allergy Care for Children
Food allergies are especially common in children and can affect many parts of family life. Our team works with families to help them understand the child's diagnosis, appropriate avoidance strategies, testing results, and ongoing treatment plan.
Because some childhood food allergies may change over time, follow-up evaluation can help determine whether additional testing or a medically supervised food challenge may eventually be appropriate.
Parents may need to consider:
- School and daycare plans
- Birthday parties and social events
- Restaurant meals
- Food labels
- Sports and extracurricular activities
- Travel
- Emergency medications
- Communication with teachers and caregivers
Food Allergies and Other Allergic Conditions
Patients with food allergies may also have other allergic conditions, including:
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Hives
- Environmental allergies
Understanding these related conditions can be important when developing a comprehensive allergy-management plan.
For example, asthma symptoms may be an important consideration when assessing the risk and management of food-allergic reactions. Our team can evaluate these concerns together rather than treating each symptom in isolation.
When Should You See a Food Allergy Specialist?
An allergist can help determine which foods may be responsible and which testing or treatment strategies are appropriate.
Consider scheduling a food allergy evaluation if you or your child:
- Develops hives after eating a specific food
- Experiences swelling after eating
- Has coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing after food exposure
- Experiences repeated digestive symptoms associated with a particular food
- Has had a suspected anaphylactic reaction
- Has been told to avoid foods based only on previous test results
- Needs clarification of an existing food allergy diagnosis
- May have outgrown a childhood food allergy
- Is interested in learning whether oral immunotherapy may be appropriate
- Needs guidance about food allergy management
Why Choose Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland for Food Allergy Care?
Board-Certified Allergy & Immunology Expertise
Our team includes providers with particular expertise and interest in food allergies.
Comprehensive Food Allergy Testing
Evaluation may include skin prick testing, blood testing, and medically supervised oral food challenges when appropriate.
Oral Immunotherapy Evaluation
Selected patients may be evaluated to determine whether food allergy desensitization or oral immunotherapy is an appropriate treatment option.
Care for Children & Adults
Food allergy evaluation and management are available for both children and adults.
Personalized Treatment
Testing and treatment decisions are based on each patient's reaction history, diagnostic findings, medical history, goals, and individual needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Food Allergies
Answers to common questions about food allergies and treatments we offer at our office in Silver Spring.
Still have a question?
Call our office and our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about treatments, scheduling, or anything else.
What foods cause the most food allergies?
Common food allergens include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish, although other foods can also cause allergic reactions.
How do I know if I have a food allergy?
Food allergy diagnosis typically involves a detailed reaction history combined with appropriate testing. Depending on your symptoms, Dr. Kalfa may recommend skin prick testing, blood testing, or a medically supervised oral food challenge.
Is a positive food allergy test enough to diagnose an allergy?
Not always. Skin and blood allergy tests can show sensitization, but test results need to be interpreted along with the patient's symptoms and history.
What is an oral food challenge?
An oral food challenge is a medically supervised test in which measured amounts of a suspected food are gradually given while the patient is closely observed for symptoms.
Is an oral food challenge safe?
Oral food challenges are performed in a medically supervised setting because allergic reactions can occur. Appropriate monitoring and treatment are available if symptoms develop.
What is oral immunotherapy?
Oral immunotherapy is a form of food allergy treatment that involves gradually consuming measured amounts of a specific food allergen according to a structured medical plan. The goal for selected patients is to increase the amount of allergen they can tolerate before experiencing a reaction.
Does oral immunotherapy cure food allergies?
Oral immunotherapy is generally intended to increase tolerance and reduce the risk of reactions from accidental exposure. It should not automatically be considered a cure, and patients may still need ongoing food-allergy precautions.
Can children outgrow food allergies?
Some food allergies may resolve over time, while others are more likely to persist. Follow-up testing and, when appropriate, an oral food challenge can help determine whether a patient may have developed tolerance.
Does Dr. Kalfa treat children with food allergies?
Yes. Dr. Kalfa provides food allergy evaluation and management for both children and adults.
Where can I see a food allergy specialist in Silver Spring?
Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland is located at 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 522, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Get Clear Answers About Food Allergies
Living with a suspected or confirmed food allergy can affect eating, school, travel, social activities, and everyday routines. Accurate diagnosis and a clear management plan can make those decisions easier. At Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland, our team provides comprehensive food allergy testing, education, and personalized treatment for children and adults in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Phone: (240) 531-2902
