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Test Your Allergy IQ
How much do you know about food allergies? Test your allergy IQ with this quiz. Note: This is not medical advice. Consult your child's allergist for advice on your child's condition.
1) True or False: Parents get their kids overexcited about allergies. An itchy nose or sneezing is nothing to worry about.
2) True or False: You'll know right away if you have an allergic reaction.
3) True or False: If your child has hay fever, you got off easy and don't have to worry about other allergies.
4) True or False: Severe anaphylaxis is only caused by bee stings.
5) True or False: A child who has had hives is at risk of a more serious anaphylactic reaction.
6) True or False: The older my child gets, the more I have to worry about him having an anaphylactic reaction.
7) True or False: An anaphylactic reaction can progress over hours.
8) True or False: If the hives go away, the episode is over and you don't have to worry any more.
9) True or False: A child has to actually eat the food to have an anaphylactic reaction to it.
10) True or False: Allergic reactions can easily be treated at home.
11) True or False: You can gradually build up an allergic child's tolerance to an allergen.
12) True or False: Food allergies are the most common allergies.
13) True or False: Food allergies are not interrelated with other allergies or conditions.

Test Your Allergy IQ
Answers
1) FALSE. Anaphylactic reactions can range from mild to life threatening Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction that can involve various areas of the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system).
2) FALSE. Symptoms occur within minutes to two hours after contact with the allergy-causing substance but, in rare instances, may occur up to four hours later.
3) FALSE: Individuals with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are at greater relative risk of experiencing anaphylaxis.
4) FALSE. Anaphylaxis can be caused by allergens that can include things like:
 Food
 Medication
 Insect stings
 Latex
5) TRUE. Anyone with a previous history of anaphylactic reactions is at risk for another severe reaction. Individuals with food allergies (particularly allergies to shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts) and asthma may be at increased risk for having a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.
6) TRUE. A recent study showed that teens with food allergy and asthma appear to be at highest risk for a reaction because they are more likely to dine away from home, they are less likely to carry medications, and they may ignore or not recognize symptoms.
7) TRUE. An anaphylactic reaction may begin with a tingling sensation, itching, or metallic taste in the mouth. Other symptoms can include hives, a sensation of warmth, asthma symptoms, swelling of the mouth and throat area, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, a drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. These symptoms may begin in as little as five to 15 minutes to up to two hours after exposure to the allergen, but life-threatening reactions may progress over hours.
8) FALSE. Some individuals have a reaction, and the symptoms go away only to return two to three hours later. This is called a "biphasic reaction." Often the symptoms occur in the respiratory tract and take the individual by surprise.
9) FALSE. Without knowing it, a child can come in contact with an allergen by inhalation or touch and suffer a severe reaction. Only a trace amount of a problem food can cause a reaction in some individuals.
10) FALSE. In the United States, food-induced anaphylaxis is believed to cause about 30,000 trips to the emergency room and between 150 to 200 deaths each year. A study of 32 cases of fatal food-allergy induced anaphylaxis showed that adolescents who have peanut and tree nut allergy and asthma, and who don't have quick access to epinephrine during a reaction, are at highest risk for a fatal reaction.
11) FALSE. Strict avoidance of the allergen is necessary for avoiding a severe reaction. Read food labels for every food each and every time you eat it. Ask questions about ingredients and preparation methods when eating away from home. Some children may spontaneously outgrow allergies, but testing by an allergist is the safe way to determine if that's the case.
12) FALSE. It is estimated that up to 10 percent of the population may be at risk for allergic reactions to medications. Other common allergies include insect stings (50 deaths a year in the U.S.) and Latex, which affects 1 percent of the U.S. population.
13) FALSE.
Some individuals with latex allergy will also develop reactions when eating foods that cross-react with latex. These foods commonly include bananas, kiwi, avocados, and European chestnuts; and they less commonly include potatoes; tomatoes; and peaches, plums, cherries, and other pitted fruits. Food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis is very rare and occurs only when an individual eats a specific food and exercises within three to four hours after eating. Individuals experiencing this type of reaction typically have asthma and other allergic conditions. Although any food may contribute to this form of anaphylaxis, foods that have been reported include wheat, shellfish, fruit, milk, celery, and fish. Food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis appears to be twice as common in females as it is in males and is common in individuals who are in their late teens to thirties.
SOURCE: The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN); www.foodallergy.org.
RESULTS:
0-1 wrong: You work at keeping well-informed about allergies.
2-5 wrong: You might need to brush up on allergies that could affect your family's health.
6 or more wrong: Get more information so you can be aware of the risks allergies pose to those around you.
 J. Louise Larson