What are the Symptoms of a Food Allergy
Information provided by the Mayo Clinic, shows that around 2 percent of adults and around 6 percent of kids experienced some type of allergic reaction to food. While those figures might look small, with a total population of more than 300 million in the America that translates to six million and 18 million people, respectively.
Much the same as other common causes of allergic reactions, food allergies result from an over reaction to an allergen by the immune system. In this case, the allergens are typically dairy based products, eggs, peanuts, shellfish and a few other foods.
Responding to contact or ingestion, the body releases an antibody termed IgE (immunoglobulin E) since it sees the food not as nutrition, but a outside invader. The allergy symptoms are produced as a result of the release of histamine, prostaglandins and several other compounds which are stimulated by the antibodies.
Food allergy symptoms are inclined to be more comprehensive than those that mark other allergies. Sinus congestion together with watery eyes are possible. Nevertheless, they are more often accompanied with or overtaken by urticaria (itchy red welts that form on the skin), swelling up of the lips, tongue or throat, wheezing, nausea and pain in the abdomen.
Anaphylactic shock can be the result in more serious cases. This is a whole body or systemic allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. It involves drastically lowered blood pressure, contracted respiratory tracts leading to breathing difficulty, dizziness and several other serious symptoms. It comes on quickly and if not treated immediately, can sometimes cause death. As many as 200 deaths per year in the US are as a result of anaphylaxis.
In some cases, food allergy reactions are localized. For instance, some folks will experience a tingling feeling in their mouth after eating fresh fruit or vegetables. It is believed that this type of response is caused by certain proteins much the same as those that are found in ragweed pollen.
Telling the difference between a food intolerance and a food allergy requires a professional diagnosis by an allergist.
A skin prick test can frequently discover whether or not an individual really has an allergy to certain foods. The doctor takes an extract of the suspect substance and exposes the individual to it by inserting a tiny amount under the skin with a lancet. The skin is observed for about half an hour to observe any swelling or itchiness in response to the extract.
In certain circumstances, a blood test may be warranted. This measures the amount of IgE produced in response to consuming the suspect food. However, this test it is not always definitive.
An example of where the symptoms are alike but not the same as an allergic reaction is lactose intolerance. This is caused by the genetic lack of a digestive enzyme that is needed by the body to process cows milk safely.
Getting rid of the troublesome food from the diet and surroundings is the first and best line of defense. Although it is perhaps a simple response, an individual who has an allergy to egg based products should avoid consuming such foods. The same applies to anybody that is allergic to peanuts or products that contain traces of them.
In the absence of any known cure for allergies, avoidance is the best medicine for the moment Nevertheless, symptom relief is possible when accidents happen. Antihistamines are a good choice as is an Epipen or similar device. The latter contains ephinephrine that can be injected by allergy sufferers in the event of an emergency caused by exposure to certain allergens. A serious attack of anaphylaxis can be staved off until professional medical assistance can be given.
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