An official set of recommendations for doctors treating food allergies has finally been put together by a group of researchers lead by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

As many as 3 percent of Americans have a food allergy, and scientists say the number has been rising in the last two decades, but there hasn’t been agreement on how to diagnose and manage them.

There guidelines are being published this week by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
“Paradoxical as it may be, up until now we have lacked uniform guidelines based on hard scientific evidence about how to diagnose and treat these very common conditions that affect the lives of millions of people,” said Dr. Robert Wood, one of the six lead authors of the guidelines, in a statement.

Wood, also director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, said the guidelines should mean suffers get up-to-date care anywhere they seek treatment – which basically includes allergen avoidance and treatment of symptoms.

The guidelines for clinicians include definitions (as in how to tell the deference between food allergy and intolerance) and information on proper tests and management of allergic reactions that are non-life-threatening and life-threatening.

A synopsis for families seeking information will be available early next year. If you want to get through the clinical version, you can find it here.