Dispelling Myths About Food Reactions.

• Position: Brief Article

Allergic reactions to food occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks harmless proteins. The allergic individual's immune system makes IgE antibodies--special proteins that can detect particular food proteins that sit on the surface of allergy cells found throughout the body. Like a radar, these IgE antibodies detect the food and alert the cell to pour out chemicals, such as histamines, which result in allergic symptoms that affect the skin (i.e., hives; swelling of the lips, tongue, and face), respiratory system (wheezing, shortness of breath), and the gastrointestinal tract (abdominal pain, vomiting), and even cause heart failure. If left untreated, these symptoms can be fatal.

According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, Fairfax, Va., a number of common myths are incorrect and should be dispelled:

Myth: Food allergies are not life-threatening.

Fact: It is...