ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — An estimated 33 million Americans have food allergies, with 9 types of food being responsible for 90% of allergic reactions: eggs, milk and dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame.

Food allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food protein as a threat and triggers a protective response which can cause localized symptoms, such as hives, eczema, vomiting, diarrhea, or asthma symptoms. However, in people with high allergic sensitivity, exposure to food allergens can trigger these symptoms all at once, resulting in a potentially life-threatening, multi-system allergic response known as anaphylaxis.

But not all reactions to foods are allergic in nature and it’s therefore important to distinguish between food allergy and food intolerance. Food intolerances can trigger similar symptoms, like nausea, diarrhea, cramping, headaches, fatigue, and (in some cases) skin rashes, but these symptoms are caused by issues with the digestive, rather than the immune, system when the digestive system is unable to properly break down a particular food. Food intolerances can certainly make you feel miserable, but they’re generally not life-threatening. Because their symptoms can be so similar, it’s important to consult with an allergist, who can determine if you suffer from food allergy or food intolerance.

Your allergist will begin with a thorough medical history, which will include questions about your diet, family allergy history, and detailed descriptions of your symptoms, and may recommend blood or skin testing, as well as an elimination diet, which can help to rule out particular foods as causes of your symptoms. They may also recommend an oral food challenge, wherein small amounts of a suspect food are gradually ingested over a period of time in a controlled environment and under their strict supervision.

If you’re diagnosed with a food allergy, your allergist will develop a program of food avoidance tailored to your specific needs and devise an action plan in case of accidental ingestion and subsequent reaction, which will include carrying an epinephrine auto-injector with you at all times in case of anaphylaxis.

While there’s no cure for food allergy, proper diagnosis and management under the care of a trained allergist can significantly reduce the risk of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.