Food allergy as a trigger for asthma is relatively uncommon and when it does occur, it mainly seen in young children.
As food allergies can be difficult to pin down and young children benefit from a varied diet, it’s important not to cut out any foods until an allergy test has been carried out by a healthcare professional. When a food allergy is identified, the patient should be referred to a specialist in that area.
In most cases, people with asthma don’t have to follow any kind of special diet but some people with asthma may find that certain foods can make their symptoms worse. Some people with asthma find that they are very intolerant to foods containing a group of substances called salicylates. These are found in aspirin, tomatoes, cucumbers, kiwi fruit and several other fruits.
The foods most associated with food allergy are cow’s milk, wheat, seafood, shellfish, eggs, soybeans and peanuts. However, allergies to these foods are not necessarily linked to asthma. In some cases, food allergies can be serious enough to cause swelling of the face, tongue or mouth. It is important to remember that this isn’t always present and many milder symptoms such as bloating, tiredness, and skin rashes may be seen.
A milk allergy which affects asthma is found in around 1 in 50 children with asthma under the age of two. In older children and adults, it is found far less frequently, in approximately 1 out of 500 people. Often it is not the food itself but the preservatives and additives in them which affect asthma.