An allergy is usually known to occur when the natural defense mechanism of the body react to exposure of a certain foreign substance and tries to evacuate the same by sending out chemicals to defense against the foreign element. All people are known to have some or the other kind of allergy be it from dust, pollutants, food as well as any other substance.
What Causes a Food Allergy?
Food allergies are one of the most common forms of allergy that affect 85% of people including children as well as adults. An IgG food allergy test can help detect food allergies. The symptoms of food allergy are usually seen in babies and children, and they grow with time. Sometimes they outgrow at times as well. A food allergy even develops with time for food that you have eaten for years. There are certain kinds of food that usually contribute mostly to food allergies like
- Eggs
- Milk
- Peanuts
- Fish
- Egg Plant
- Shellfish and other sea fishes
- Wheat
- Soy
- Certain kinds of seeds like mustard and sesame seeds
What Are the Symptoms of a Food Allergy?
The major symptoms of an allergic reaction involve the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system and respiratory tract as well. A food allergy usually occurs when the immune system in your body overreacts to certain kinds of food that may create a negative response in your body. Allergies are usually known to be either hereditary or genetic and sometimes acquired as well.
Symptoms of a food allergy can usually range from mild to severe cases when the person also may need to be hospitalized. The reactions may initially be mild but slowly may aggravate the situation. All food allergies may not be similar, and a person may react differently to different food allergies. One of the most severe food allergies is Anaphylaxis, which may be life-threatening as well. This can trigger breathing difficulties, a drop in your blood pressure level, and also affect the rate of heartbeat. Some of the symptoms of a food allergy include
- Big red rashes on the skin
- Shortness of breath and palpitation
- A cough and wheezing
- Swelling of the tongue
- Weak pulse rate
- Hives
- Pale color of the skin
- Dizziness and faint
- Vomiting and stomach cramps
- Anaphylaxis
- Drop in blood pressure, trouble in swallowing
Most of the food allergies occur within two hours of digestion, and some also occur within minutes. Delayed reactions are sometimes seen in children who tend to develop eczema.
What Is IgG Food Allergy Test?
An IgG food allergy test is a test that helps to detect food allergies of various kinds. This test is based on a combination of
- The person’s history
- Skin prick testing
- Allergen-specific IgE blood testing
- Oral food challenge that is specially supervised by the physician
The IgG food allergy test or the immunoglobulin test measures the level of certain immunoglobulin or antibodies. It is a test where your blood is tested for IgG antibodies instead of IgE antibodies. The presence of IgG antibodies is regarded as a tool to diagnose food allergy or food intolerance. IgG is a memory antibody which indicates the exposure to food but not the allergy. A positive IgG blood test is the sign of a normal immune system and can suggest tolerance to all kinds of food.
IgE or immunoglobulin E allergies are responses to foreign substances that have entered into the body through food or inhalation. This is different from igg vs. igE food allergy test.
How Accurate is IgG Food Allergy Test?
The IgG food allergy test is a test that measures your allergic reaction to a certain food by measuring to know whether your body is making antibodies against that food to defend itself. Antibodies would help to fight with IgG antibodies that are connected with food. Measuring the IgG antibodies to a particular food will help in measuring the allergic attack your body is preparing for a certain food.
Though the IgG food sensitivity testing is done to detect the food allergy, the results are not accurate at all times. The IgG antibodies are not the right kind of antibodies as they are not involved in the food allergy response and also they are not associated with any severe food allergy symptoms. There are times when people go for an IgG test, and the test shows positive results. This, however, does not mean that you are allergic to the good.
IgG Food Allergy Test Results Interpretation
There are various conditions that are associated with the increase in serum immunoglobulin levels.
- Chronic infections
- Intrauterine or perinatal infection like rubella
- Autoimmune disorders
- Multiple myelomas
- Chronic inflammation
- Primary systemic amyloidosis
There are Various Conditions that are Associated with the Decrease in Serum Immunoglobulin Levels.
- Abnormal protein loss
- Abnormal immunoglobulin production
- Severe combined immunodeficiency
A number of clinical laboratories have also set up an Elisa panel known as the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay panel to conduct the ELISA IgG food allergy test to find the presence of IgG antibodies in patients with numerous food allergens.
Benefits of IgG Food Allergy Test
Though the IgG food allergy test is always not accurate, there are a number of benefits of this test.
- The test helps to determine if the food reaction add to physical or mental symptoms in the body
- Research and various clinical studies suggest the food allergies that have been identified by IgG testing can be a result of chronic allergies as well.
- Rotation of food and changing the diet can reduce stress on the digestive system and the immune system as well as the lower gut, and it can also help in reducing food cravings
- Removal of reactive food can alleviate a patient’s symptoms as well
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