Prevention & Diagnostics
Food allergy
Food allergies and intolerances can cause similar symptoms, but they have different causes and treatment options.
Food allergy or food intolerance?
Food allergy
- The immune system overreacts to certain proteins in foods
- Symptoms usually appear quickly – minutes to a few hours after consumption
- Rash, itching, swelling, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal complaints
- Anaphylactic shock as a life-threatening complication
- Diagnosis by skin tests, blood tests and targeted challenge tests under medical supervision
- Allergen avoidance and emergency medication (e.g. adrenaline auto-injector) as treatment options
Food intolerance
- No response from the immune system
- The cause lies in an enzyme deficiency or other metabolic problems
- Symptoms often appear with a delay – hours to days after eating
- Bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, headache
- Diagnosis by means of exclusion diets and specific tests according to what is suspected
- Therapeutically adapted diet, medication support (enzyme preparations)
How do I tell the difference?
- Allergies can be life-threatening and can develop quickly
- Intolerances are usually less acute, but they affect quality of life
- If this is suspected, always seek medical advice!
Do you have questions about symptoms after eating? We will help you find the cause and draw up a suitable treatment plan. Talk to us!