At first, pediatrician Naline Lai, MD, wasn’t sure why her infant son had broken out in hives after a family picnic. She soon realized that by merely touching a peanut butter sandwich, he had incurred an allergic reaction.

“My son is one of the 12 million Americans who have a food allergy,” says Dr. Lai, of Buckingham Pediatrics, PC. Ninety percent of food allergies are due to eight common foods: milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, cashews, etc.), fish and shellfish.

Symptoms can range from a tingling sensation in the mouth to a sudden loss of consciousness and death. Severe food allergies require immediate treatment with epinephrine, which is available in self-injectable devices called the EpiPen® or Twinject®.

“Unfortunately, there is no cure for food allergies; the best defense is to be aware of symptoms and avoid all contact with the offending food,” says Dr. Lai. “If your child says ‘my tongue feels funny’ or breaks out in hives within an hour or so of eating, think food allergy. If your child has a known allergy, make sure the school and his friends’ parents know about it.”