Although food allergies are most common in children, they may appear at any age. Allergies may even be developed into products a person has consumed for years without any issues. The foods most associated with food allergy in children are milk, eggs, and peanuts. Some products might be outgrown, such as milk and eggs, though peanut and tree nut allergies often persist. Along with food allergies, mental health disorders are widely spread diseases. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating, are common among young women.
Allergic reactions may affect the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system. The allergist will take the blood and skin test, the results of which he will use in making a diagnosis. In some cases, the allergist will recommend an oral food challenge, which may be the most accurate way to make a diagnosis. During this challenge, which is conducted under strict medical supervision, the patient is fed tiny amounts of the suspected trigger food in increasing doses over a while, followed by a few hours of observation to see if a reaction occurs. The most common way to treat food allergies is to avoid the consumption of trigger foods. People with food allergies should always carefully check the ingredient labels of products. Anyone with a food allergy should always have his auto-injector close at hand and consult their doctor about the risk of anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction that is treated with adrenaline.
Anxiety, depression, insomnia, bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, and eating disorders are different types of mental disorders. The most common manifestations of eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. People with anorexia avoid food or eat very small quantities of only certain foods. Even when they are dangerously underweight, they may see themselves as overweight. Mental health disorders and food allergies interfere with the full enjoyment of life and should be carefully treated by specialists.