A food allergy is an adverse immune system response triggered by a certain food. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, hives, swollen airways, and in some individuals, a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. Often confused with food intolerance, which can also cause digestive problems, a food allergy is more serious because it can affect your immune system and your entire body. If you suspect that you might have a food allergy, it’s important to find out for sure. Dr. Frank Averill of St. Francis Medical Institute can help you clarify your digestive intolerances at his clinic conveniently located near Clearwater, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Trinity, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, FL, and other area cities.
Dr. Averill is a board-certified pulmonologist who has completed a fellowship in allergy and immunology at the highly acclaimed Johns Hopkins University. With more than 20 years of experience in the research, diagnosis, and treatment of allergies, and as a widely published scholar on related topics, Dr. Averill is well-qualified to diagnose and treat your food allergy at his state-of-the-art facility.
To do so, Dr. Averill may consider a number of factors, such as:
- Your food allergy symptoms
- The results of a physical examination
- Your food diary
- The findings of a skin test, elimination diet, or blood test
- Your body’s response to an oral food challenge in which you will be given small, increasing amounts of the suspected food
- And more
Once Dr. Averill has conclusively identified your specific food allergy, you can take steps to avoid the food that causes your symptoms. Even so, you may still inadvertently come into contact with a trigger that leads to a reaction. For minor reactions, Dr. Averill may recommend antihistamines, and for more severe reactions, he may prescribe an epinephrine autoinjector for you to carry at all times.
Patients in Clearwater, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg, Largo, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Florida, and the surrounding area can contact St. Francis for more information about the diagnosis and treatment of a food allergy. We’d also be pleased to provide information about our medically supervised program for weight loss, if you are interested.