Food Allergy Point of Care Pearls

Food allergy should be suspected in individuals with a history of immediate reactivity following ingestion (ie, typically within 20 minutes and almost always within 2 hours) with typical symptoms of immunoglobulin E-mediated reactivity (eg, urticaria, angioedema, coughing, wheezing, vomiting). Testing for food allergy should focus on the most likely allergen to provoke the reaction based on the patient's history. Safe introduction of peanut-containing foods into the diet of an infant at high risk of developing peanut allergy at 4 to 6 months is likely to reduce the risk of peanut allergy.