Schools have banned peanut butter, commercials for allergies seem to play every five minutes, and many adults and children live in fear of an anaphylaxtic episode. It seems everyone is allergic to something and the numbers are on the rise. According to a study, comprised for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, many adults and children who believe they have allergies are mistaken. The numbers are only 1 child in 20, and 1 adult in 25, that actually have an allergy. 

What Caused the Mistake?

A 25-member panel of experts, responsible for the study, says that often, simple misdiagnosis is to blame. As with many medical symptoms, the cause of a particular symptom may be attributed to many other conditions. This is dependent on an array of variables, such as the patients health and lifestyle, previous medical history, and recent activities. Another cause for misdiagnosis of allergies is the over-reliance on the skin prick and blood test for antibodies. Both tests can produce misleading results, when antibodies are present.

What Does the Presence of Antibodies Mean?

The presence of antibodies in the blood does not mean that you are allergic to a substance in food. Nor does it mean that a person will have an allergic reaction to a certain food. Antibodies can be present for other reasons such as a bacteria or virus. A skin prick test can actually remain positive long after the allergy is gone.

Allergies By Clinical Diagnosis:

Some patients don't even have a blood or skin prick test, but are simply diagnosed with an allergy by clinical diagnosis. This is based on the patient's report of a bad reaction after consuming a particular food. It is very common for people to mistake something as simple as lactose intolerance, which results from the deficiency of an enzyme, as an allergic reaction. 

The Oral Challenge:

According to the New York Times, the only test that absolutely can identify a food allergy, leaving no margin for error is the oral challenge. This is to eat a suspect food and wait for the results. The problem with this test, is that the patient risks have an allergic reaction, possibly severe. Therefore, doctors are not jumping on the oral challenge bandwagon. If this test is done, it should only be done in a medical facility with proper medical equipment and staff at hand. 

Children often outgrow allergies to wheat, soy, milk, and eggs. Peanut or other nut allergies are normally lifelong and severe. If you think you have a food allergy but aren't sure, take the time to get retested. You may have been misdiagnosed, or you may have outgrown your allergy. Talk to an allergist at places like Allergy Asthma & Immunology Center for more information.