ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Food allergy

Food allergy is a situation where your body thinks that some particular types of food you eat are harmful and dangerous to your health. When you eat those foods, your body reacts to them in a way that causes problems. This reaction of your body happens because it thinks those foods are enemies and compounds that protect you from danger are released to fight them.

One of the important things to know is that not all foods will cause an allergy in everyone. Different people are allergic to different foods, and their symptoms will vary as well. Some people may experience mild symptoms, such as a mild rash, when they eat certain foods, while others may experience severe symptoms, such as breathing difficulties.

The most common food allergies are to eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, soybeans, and wheat. If you have a food allergy, you may experience a variety of symptoms including hives, itchiness, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms can occur within a few minutes after eating the offending food or may take several hours to show up.

Additionally, people with food allergies are at risk of experiencing anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. This reaction causes your body to quickly release chemicals, and the symptoms may include trouble breathing, swelling of the face, throat, or tongue, a rapid or weak pulse, and dizziness.

Therefore, it's important to avoid any food that you know you are allergic to and to be careful about the foods you eat. If you suspect that you might have a food allergy, talk to your doctor who can give you a diagnosis and suggest ways to manage your allergy. This may involve avoiding certain foods or carrying an epinephrine auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) in case of an emergency.