Food allergies as well as seasonal allergies are a common problem for many children and adults. In fact, an estimated 50 million people in the United States suffer from some kind of allergy. However, not every allergy lasts a lifetime.
By age 16, approximately 80% of children will no longer be allergic to eggs, milk and wheat. Peanut, tree nut and seafood allergies are more likely to be lifelong, but about 20 to 25 percent of peanut-allergic children grow out of it, most often by age 8. Although an estimated 80 percent of sufferers continue to be allergic to sesame seeds, those who grow out of it usually do so by age 6.
Food and seasonal allergies aren’t the only allergies that don’t last forever. It may sound surprising, but most people who report an allergy to penicillin either don’t actually have the allergy or will grow out of it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies show that while about 10 percent of Americans report an allergy to penicillin, about 90 percent of them are actually not allergic to the drug. Of those who are allergic, about 80 percent are no longer allergic to penicillin 10 years after avoiding it. Dr. Zachary Rubin, a pediatrician specializing in allergy treatment and immunology at Oak Brook Allergists in Illinois, told Yahoo Lifestyle, “Penicillin allergy is more likely to be eliminated than some food allergens such as peanuts, nuts and seafood.”
Why do some people’s allergies go away?
Priya Bansal, PhD, an allergist and immunologist at the Asthma and Allergy Health Center in St. Charles, Illinois, notes that “as we get older, new allergies emerge.” In some cases, however, allergic reactions disappear naturally in children and adults, who become more tolerant of allergy triggers over time.
In addition, Bansal told Yahoo Lifestyle, “allergies can be reduced, depending on changes such as moving” to places with fewer seasonal allergy triggers, for example, or through “treatments that target certain food and environmental allergies.
Immunotherapy involves a series of injections – spread out over three to five years – that expose you to allergy triggers, gradually increasing the dose over time, according to the Mayo Clinic. Eventually, your body will develop tolerance to the allergy trigger until you become desensitized to it. Immunotherapy is best suited for seasonal allergies, such as hay fever; indoor allergies, such as pet dander, dust mites and mold; and insect bites, including bees, wasps, hornets or yellow jackets, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Peanut allergy immunotherapy is also now an option. According to the Asthma and Allergy Network, slowly increasing peanut exposure – when safe in a physician’s care or medical setting – can desensitize patients to high doses of peanut protein. While it is not a cure, this treatment can help reduce the frequency and severity of allergic reactions to peanuts.
How do you know if you are (still) allergic
The safest way to find out if you’ve gotten rid of an allergy – or to find out if you have one in the first place – is to see an allergist for testing.
“The gold standard for determining if someone is allergic to a food or penicillin is to consume it in a medically controlled environment,” Rubin says. “This is known as an oral food challenge or a direct verbal challenge. However, it can be a time-consuming, resource-intensive process that can pose high risks. Therefore, we use allergy testing to estimate the level of risk of developing a reaction to food or penicillin.” Experts emphasize that people should not attempt to perform verbal challenges on their own without an assessment, as this can be life-threatening.
Both food and penicillin allergies need to be discussed with an allergist who will take a detailed medical history, including what happens when you are exposed to certain allergens. Allergy skin testing can also be used to determine if a potential allergic reaction may occur when exposed to certain allergens. For foods, skin prick/scratch tests or intradermal skin tests may be used. Further testing can be done with a blood test that measures specific allergy antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). According to the Cleveland Clinic, these antibodies trigger the release of chemicals that cause allergic reactions. Blood tests help determine the risk of an allergic reaction.
How to protect yourself from allergy triggers
Certain types of allergies, such as allergies to food, insect bites and penicillin, can “lead to a potentially life-threatening reaction called an allergic reaction,” Rubin says. So know what your triggers are and the signs of an allergic reaction, which may include rash, itching, hives, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, nausea and vomiting.
In terms of food allergies, Rubin says it’s important to read food labels carefully to make sure products are allergen-free and to let restaurants know about any food allergies. If you are allergic to penicillin, it should be listed in your medical records and your pharmacy should be aware of it.
For patients at risk for allergic reactions, allergists can prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors, which help reduce the body’s allergic reactions. Experts recommend always carrying your medication with you, especially if you are at higher risk, such as outside at a sporting event if you are allergic to insects, or at a restaurant or a friend’s home if you are allergic to food.
Bansal also advises patients to “make sure to practice using the epinephrine trainer regularly so that you can use it in an emergency. Keep the epinephrine at room temperature, remembering that it can pass through clothing. Be sure to hold it for three seconds to allow time for the drug to come out completely.”