Adverse reactions to food: navigating the maze in primary health care

ABSTRACT

Primary health care providers are often confronted with patients describing adverse reactions to food. With a multiplex of differential diagnoses, it is essential to have a structured approach to these complaints. Just as allergies can have a negative impact on quality of life, inappropriate food allergy labelling can cause unnecessary distress and hardship for patients. Understanding the diagnostic approaches to adverse food reactions, alongside an appreciation of multidisciplinary collaboration, can assist the clinician in making appropriate decisions in the management of these patients. Keywords food allergy; food hypersensitivity; food intolerance; allergy-focused history; allergy diagnosis.