Overuse of Allergy Tests is Causing Anxiety and Unnecessary Food Avoidance, an EMR Review Warns

Food allergy testing helps you find out if you or your child is allergic to specific foods like peanuts, eggs, or milk. However, when food allergy panels are overused, it can cause patients harm. According to Dr. David Khan, president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, "When these tests are ordered for the wrong reasons, the results may not be helpful. In fact, there is a high rate of false positives with food allergy testing."

A new study involving more than 2,130 kids who underwent food allergy testing found that 76% of the tests were performed due to non-allergen specific symptoms. "The most common reasons people were getting these tests didn’t seem related to food allergies at all; they were for issues like behavior problems or chronic abdominal pain, which are not manifestations of food allergies."

The study also suggested that indiscriminate food allergy screenings can lead to increased anxiety and food avoidance in patients. The authors emphasized the importance of proper food allergy testing and diagnosis for the physical and mental well-being of patients.