Whether your child was recently diagnosed with a food allergy or has been living with one for years, you know how stressful it can be to manage.
More and more are being diagnosed with allergies: The number of children with food allergies grew by 50 percent between 2007 and 2021.
As food allergies abound, so do misconceptions about them. Some myths can be dangerous, such as thinking Benadryl is just as good as an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) when it comes to stopping an allergic reaction. (Spoiler: It’s not.)
To keep your child safe, it’s important to know all the facts around food allergies. Here are the truths behind some of the most common myths.
Myth 1: Food Allergies Aren’t That Serious
Food allergies can be deadly.
They’re more than just a mild irritation to certain foods. “Food allergies can lead to a severe, potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis, where your body goes into shock,” says Amanda Lee Pratt, MD, a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.
With anaphylaxis, blood pressure drops and the airway narrows, making it difficult to breathe. Some children get a skin rash or hives, while others become nauseous and vomit. If it isn’t treated right away — with an injection of epinephrine — it can be deadly.
Myth 2: All They Need Is Benadryl, Not an EpiPen
Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), do not stop anaphylaxis.
Epinephrine is “the first line of treatment,” says Christopher Codispoti, MD, an allergy and immunology specialist at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. For a severe reaction, epinephrine — usually in the form of an auto-injector, such as an EpiPen — is needed, because it can quickly treat the symptoms of anaphylaxis. It opens the airway, making it easier to breathe, and helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate. It can also help reduce itching and hives.
“Antihistamines can be used as a supplement for more mild symptoms,” he says, “like a runny nose or itchy mouth.”
Myth 3: Eating a Little Bit of the Food Won’t Be Harmful and May Lessen the Allergy
Even a tiny amount of a food allergen can cause anaphylaxis.
You should help your child avoid all contact with the food. “Their body can still detect the allergen and have a reaction even in small amounts,” says Dr. Codispoti.
The only time your child should be intentionally exposed to the allergen is under the supervision of a doctor. You or your child should never do this on your own. Known as oral immunotherapy, it involves slowly exposing someone to their allergen in small doses to train their immune system not to have a reaction.
Myth 4: Food Intolerances and Food Allergies Are the Same
Food allergies and intolerances are very different. Food intolerances can be uncomfortable, but they are usually not life threatening.
“A food allergy is an antibody-mediated immune reaction to food that could lead to life-threatening symptoms,” Dr. Pratt explains. A food intolerance may or may not involve an immune system reaction and usually causes more mild symptoms, such as gastrointestinal issues, headaches, or skin problems.
Myth 5: Food Allergy Tests Are Always Accurate
Skin-prick and blood tests for food allergies can give false-positive results.
When it comes to diagnosing food allergies, the gold standard of testing is an oral food challenge, says Pratt. “We do it to see what happens when [your child puts] the food in question in [their] mouth,” she explains.
Here’s how it works: Under their doctor’s supervision, your child would eat the suspected food in measured doses, and the doctor would wait and watch for a reaction. If your child were to start having symptoms, the doctor would end the food challenge and give them medication to stop the reaction and relieve their symptoms.
Myth 6: Food Allergies Always Begin in Childhood
Food allergies can develop at any age, anytime.
“I’ve diagnosed people in their 70s and 80s,” Codispoti notes. The most common food allergies in adults are fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts.
Myth 7: Your Child Will Always Have Their Allergy
It’s possible that your child will outgrow their food allergy.
Children are more likely to grow out of certain allergies. “Around 80 percent of children who are allergic to eggs and milk will outgrow it,” says Pratt. “Peanuts and tree nuts are the opposite: Only 20 percent of children outgrow those.” The younger your child was diagnosed, the more likely they are to grow out of their food allergy, she notes.
Myth 8: If an Ingredient Isn’t Listed on a Restaurant Menu, It’s Safe to Eat
Not all ingredients are disclosed in the menu description, so you have to be extra careful when eating out.
Be sure to ask the server or manager not only for a list of every ingredient in the dish, but also exactly how it’s prepared. “You need to be cautious of cross contact during preparation in the kitchen,” says Codispoti.
Let the waitstaff know about your child’s food allergy, so they can accommodate you. To be even more prepared, go online and check out the menu ahead of time, so you can see what may be safe for your child to eat.
The Takeaway
Food allergies in children are on the rise.
Food allergies can be life threatening. It’s important to always have your child’s epinephrine medication on hand in case of a reaction.
Your child may eventually outgrow their food allergy, especially if it’s an allergy to milk or eggs.
Jon E. Stahlman, MD, has been a practicing allergist for more than 25 years. He is currently the section chief of allergy and immunology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta's Scottish Rite campus and the senior physician at The Allergy & Asthma Center in Atlanta. He served as the president of the Georgia Allergy Society, has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, and was listed as a Top Doctor by Atlanta magazine. His research interests include new therapies for asthma and allergic rhinitis as well as the use of computerized monitoring of lung function.
He received his bachelor's and medical degrees from Emory University. He completed his pediatric residency at Boston Children’s Hospital and his fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology at Harvard University’s Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. After his training, Dr. Stahlman conducted two years of clinical research at Boston Children’s Hospital and was part of the faculty at Harvard Medical School, where he taught medical students and allergy and immunology fellows.
Stahlman is board-certified and recertified in allergy and clinical immunology. He served as a principal investigator on phase 2 through 4 studies that are responsible for most of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved therapies for allergies and asthma available today.
Outside of the office, he centers his interests around his wife and three daughters, coaching soccer for many years, and his hobbies include cycling and triathlons.
Abigail Libers is a freelance writer and editor focusing on health, nutrition, and lifestyle journalism. Her articles have appeared in a number of publications, including O: The Oprah Magazine, SELF, SHAPE, Cosmopolitan, and Marie Claire and on Web sites such as FoodNetwork.com and Refinery29.com. When she's not writing, you can find her riding her bike, doing yoga, traveling, and experimenting with new recipes.
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
