The short answer would be ‘maybe’. It all depends on the problems you think the food is giving you. The classic immediate type of allergic reactions includes symptoms that can develop within seconds or minutes, for e.g. angioedema, urticaria, hives, and anaphylaxis. Some of these symptoms are severe and can be life threatening, requiring immediate medical attention. If you suspect that there is a food group that causes you these symptoms, you should consult your doctor who can suggest some tests to confirm this.
It is important to remember that there are other medical conditions that can also make you feel unwell. It is therefore important that you consult your family physician for him to find out the cause of the problem. It may involve blood tests to rule out conditions like diabetes, anaemia, thyroid disease. A food allergy test may also be required.
Dr Melvyn Wong, Senior Family Physician, Raffles Medical