Food intolerance

Is it a food intolerance or foodallergy?

A food intolerance is not the same as a food allergy . Here's how you can tell the difference:

Afood allergy:

is a reaction from your immune system (your body's defence against infection) - your immune system mistakenly treats proteins found in food as a threat
can trigger typical allergy symptoms , such asa rash, wheezing and itching, after eating just a small amount of the food (these symptoms usually come on rapidly)
is often to particular foods common food allergies in adults are to fish and shellfish and nuts, and in childrento milk and eggs as well as to peanuts,other nuts and fish
can beserious

A foodintolerance:

doesn't involve your immune system there is no allergic reaction, and it is never life-threatening
causessymptoms that come onmore slowly , often many hours after eating the problem food
only results in symptoms if you eat reasonable amounts of the food (unlike an allergy, where just traces can trigger a reaction)
can be caused by many different foods

Read about the diagnosis of food allergies .

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for food intolerance

Introduction

A food intolerance is difficulty digesting certain foods and having an unpleasant physical reaction to them.

What are the symptoms of food intolerance?

In general, people who have afood intolerance tend to experience: Tummy ache , bloating, windand/or diarrhoea , or skin rashes and itching These symptoms usually come on a few hours after eating

Is there afood intolerance test?

There are no tests for food intolerances. The only way to know if you have one is to monitor your symptoms and the food you eat. See what happens when you cut out the suspected food for a while, and t

Could my symptoms be something else?

If you regularly have diarrhoea, bloating, tummy pain or skin rashes but you're not certain of the cause,see your GP. Your GP may be able to diagnose the cause from your symptoms and medical history.

Is it a food intolerance or foodallergy?

A food intolerance is not the same as a food allergy . Here's how you can tell the difference: Afood allergy: is a reaction from your immune system (your body's defence against infection) - your

What causes a food intolerance?

It is often unclear why a person is sensitive to certain foods. If your symptoms come on after having dairy products, it's possible you may have lactose intolerance . This meansyour body can't digest

How do I manage it?

If you're confident youare intolerant to a particular food, the only way you can manage this is to: stop eating the food for a while, and then reintroduce small quantities while monitoring how much

When do I need to see a specialist?

Your GP may want to refer you to a specialist if they're not surewhat's causing your symptoms and further tests are needed. You may also be referred if your child has digestive symptoms (such as tumm

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