Managing Food Allergies

Most of us eat without a thought that something so important to life might also harm us. But if you’re allergic to one or more foods, every mouthful can be a worry. Some allergic reactions to food can be mild, but others may be severe or even life-threatening.

If you have food allergies, knowing more about the condition can make it easier to discuss your diagnosis and care with your doctor. A new online booklet is now available on the NIH website to help. This simple and informative 32-page publication can help patients, families and caregivers understand how to manage their food allergies.

The new booklet is actually an easy-to-read summary of a longer and more technical document that was released last year to help doctors diagnose and manage food allergies in their patients. The technical document, called Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States, was based on the most up-to-date scientific and clinical information. Make sure that your doctor knows about the guidelines so you can work together to manage your food allergies.

To learn more about the patient summary and download a copy, go to www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/clinical/Pages/patients.aspx.