Is it even possible to outgrow a food allergy?

As a parent to a daughter with food allergies, I always hoped against hope that as Natasha got older and her immune system strengthened, she would outgrow her allergies. It was a hope I held onto, even when everything felt hopeless; I couldn't let go of it.

Allergy we know is a disease of the immune and there is no question that more people around the world are becoming allergic. But is it actually possible to outgrow food allergies? Well, the answer is YES - for some people.

The majority of people who outgrow them, do so by the time they reach adolescence. The allergens they are more likely to outgrow, are milk, egg, and wheat and the ones they are less likely to grow out of are peanuts, tree nuts, and especially shellfish.

Every allergic adult or child responds differently to their allergens and this unfortunately makes it very difficult to predict if and when a person could outgrow their allergy. But interestingly, the older a child gets, the more likely they are to outgrow their allergy. About 19% of 4-year-olds outgrow a milk allergy and a staggering estimated 79% of 16-year-olds have outgrown the same allergy! The same research indicates similar results for egg allergies. About 4% of 4-year-olds outgrow it compared with 68% of 16-year-olds.

If you are uncertain if you or your child has outgrown a food allergy, never test yourself with the food allergen at home. It's really important that you undergo testing in a hospital setting in case of an allergic reaction. Your GP can refer you to an allergy clinic for this.

Have you or a loved one outgrown an allergy?

Source: Medical News Today

*DISCLAIMER: Natasha's Foundation does not provide medical advice. All medical information is sourced from reputable medical sites, experts and publishers. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.