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Peanut allergy is one of the most common types of allergies in the US, affecting approximately 1 in 5children. Peanut allergy is the reason why many peanut butter and other peanut food items are nowhere to be found on school grounds.
Peanut allergy can cause an anaphylactic reaction – a life-threatening reaction that requires immediate medical attention and treatment.
If you have a peanut allergy and are planning to visit a peanut allergy doctor, you may be wondering what to expect during your visit. Let’s talk about what you can expect from a peanut allergy doctorand where you can find the best allergy doctor in Northeastern Illinois.
Assessment of Your Symptoms
When you see a peanut allergy doctor, first, they assess your symptoms. Peanut allergy symptoms can be mild or severe and may include:
- Itching in the throat and mouth
- Nausea
- Hives, redness, and swelling.
- Throat tightening
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and other digestive symptoms
Some anaphylactic reaction symptoms resulting from peanut allergy are as follows:
- Airway constriction
- Rapid pulse rate
- Throat swelling and difficulty breathing
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
** If you have an anaphylactic reaction, use an epinephrine injection or call medical help immediately. When your symptoms improve, see your allergy doctor for treatment**
Your peanut allergy doctor will thoroughly evaluate your medical history and family history. They will also ask questions like:
- What is the severity of your symptoms?
- When did you first notice your symptoms?
- How much peanuts or peanut-rich food did you eat?
- How long did symptoms take to appear?
It’s best to note down all your symptoms in a journal and take the journal with you so that you don’t forget them during your visit.
Diagnostic Testing
Based on the results of your initial assessment, your peanut allergy doctor will order some food allergy tests to confirm that the cause of your allergic symptoms is peanuts. Commonly, peanut allergy doctor diagnoses peanut allergy with tests like,
- Skin Test – This allergy test involves pricking an area of your skin with a needle and then placing a small number of peanuts on your skin. If this starts a reaction or if a bump appears, then you might have a peanut allergy.
- Blood Test – Otherwise known as the immunocap radioallergosorbent (RAST) test, the blood test check for the number of IgE antibodies in your blood. A higher number of these immunoglobulins indicate that you are allergic to peanuts.
On confirming your peanut allergy, your peanut allergy doctor will give you a diagnosis and develop a peanut allergy treatment plan.
Treatment Plan
Your peanut allergy doctor will consider the severity of your symptoms, other medical conditions, and personal preferences before developing a peanut allergy treatment plan.
It’s pertinent to mention that there is no cure for peanut allergies; some kids outgrow peanut allergies with age. However, several treatments available can help ease peanut allergy symptoms. These include:
Medications
Medications are the best resource to reduce the severity of peanut allergy symptoms. Some medications that are beneficial for peanut allergy are:
Epinephrine
This is a life-saving medication for those with severe anaphylactic reactions to peanut allergies. An Epinephrine injection can immediately begin reversing the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction.
Antihistamines
Mild peanut allergy symptoms respond well to antihistamines. Antihistamines prevent the release of histamine from mast cells, thereby reducing itching or congestion.
Corticosteroids
They are anti-inflammatory medications that reduce swelling resulting from a peanut allergy reaction.
Oral Immunotherapy
Also known as desensitization, oral immunotherapy involves giving individuals with peanut allergies or those with the risk for peanut allergies a gradually increasing dose of food containing peanuts.
This strengthens the immune system of the individuals and gradually reduces the risk of severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis, that could occur by eating peanuts or peanut-containing food.
Follow-Up Appointment
Peanut allergy doctors may also set up follow-up consultations to check how well your peanut allergy treatment plan works for you. Discussing your questions or concerns with your peanut allergy doctor during follow-up sessions is best.
Peanut Allergy Doctor in Northeastern Illinois
Peanut allergies, even if they are mild now, can be life-threatening. So, it’s crucial to get treatment for peanut allergy as soon as you start experiencing allergy symptoms after eating peanuts.
If you believe you or your child have a peanut allergy or any other food allergy and are looking for a proper diagnosis and treatment, look no further than Oak Brook Allergists for a comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment.
Our team of board-certified, highly trained, and talented peanut allergy doctors has years of experience in treating peanut allergies. We do a comprehensive assessment and order some diagnostic tests to reach the culprit of our patient’s allergy symptoms.
Based on the results of diagnostic tests, we recommend the most personalized treatment plan, which typically consists of medications, immunotherapy, and diet elimination.
If you wish to know the cause of your allergy symptoms or would like to make a one-on-one consultation with one of our board-certified allergy doctors, make a call at one of our four convenient locations or fill out this online appointment request form now.
