All over the world people suffer from all kinds of food allergies.
From milk to shellfish, people who are allergic have to carefully examine what they eat because getting an allergic reaction could prove life-threatening.
A new study has revealed that some people who believe they are allergic actually do not have a food allergy at all.
The study found out that nearly half of the people who believe they are allergic have been incorrectly diagnosed with a food allergy.
The reasons for misdiagnosis range from self-diagnosis, misinterpretation of heartburn or food intolerance, and wrong diagnosis by doctors.
In recent years, false interpretation of an allergy test has become an issue with experts.
They have stressed that it is insufficient to base a diagnosis on a single allergy test.
In fact, more tests need to be performed before an allergy to a certain food is confirmed.
Example, a child might show a positive result to an allergy test but this does not automatically mean they are allergic.
More tests must be performed to confirm it.
Currently, there is no standard for identifying true food-allergy.
This has been a contribution to the problem of perceived food allergies.
Health care experts are hoping that standard guidelines will be developed which will define how to diagnose and treat food allergies.
It's important for a person to really confirm whether they are allergic to certain food or not.
Though avoiding ingestion of particular foods is not really harmful, the stress and anxiety of the person who thinks they have a food allergy can be.
Also, placing restrictions on a diet due to a perceived food allergy means the person is deprived of certain nutrients from the foods being avoided.
Generalizing the incidence of food allergy amongst a community can also end up trivializing it.
So, before you decide you have a food allergy, make sure you perform the necessary tests to confirm it.