Generally, people are
unaware of allergies they have. They are careless about food that can have toxic
effect on their body. It is highly important to know which food is allergen to
their body so that remedial action can be taken to prevent from health
diseases.
Food allergy symptoms
are common in babies and children, but they can appear at any age. People can
even develop an allergy to foods they have eaten for years with no problems.
A food allergy
reaction ensues when immune system of humans exaggerates to a food or a
substance in a food, recognizing it as a danger and generating a protective
response. Food allergies involve two features of the human immune response. One
is the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE), a type of protein called an antibody
that circulates through the blood. The other is the mast cell, a specific cell
that occurs in all body tissues but is especially common in areas of the body
that are typical sites of allergic reactions, including the nose and throat,
lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract.
Even small amount of
the allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive
problems, hives or swollen airways. In some people, a food allergy can cause
severe symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. The
most severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis. It is a life-threatening
whole-body allergic reaction that can weaken breathing, cause a dramatic drop
in blood pressure and affect heart rate. Anaphylaxis can come on within minutes
of exposure to the trigger food. It can be deadly and must be treated quickly
with an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline).
Though people may be
sensitive to any food and they may develop allergies, but common food that can
cause adverse reaction are as under:
Ø Eggs
Ø Milk
Ø Peanuts
Ø Tree nuts
Ø Fish
Ø Shellfish
Ø Wheat
Ø Soy
Symptoms of an allergic reaction:
Symptoms may involve
the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system and the
respiratory tract.
Patient may exhibit
following reaction when he has allergy to food:
Ø Vomiting and/or stomach cramps
Ø Hives
Ø Shortness of breath
Ø Wheezing
Ø Repetitive cough
Ø Shock or circulatory collapse
Ø Tight, hoarse throat; trouble swallowing
Ø Swelling of the tongue, affecting the ability to talk
or breathe
Ø Weak pulse
Ø Pale or blue colouring of skin
Ø Dizziness or feeling faint
Ø Anaphylaxis
Peanuts are one of
the most common cause of food-related allergy death. They can activate
anaphylaxis, a reaction that may be deadly if medical attention is not given
immediately. Symptoms usually start within minutes of exposure. But they can
also start within seconds or take hours to develop.
In India, reports
indicated that people are allergic to Wheat or gluten. If a person experiences allergies from wheat,
they must watch foods. People with wheat allergy should avoid food that
contains wheat, semolina, barley based products, broken wheat, burger, wheat
bran, durum, cereals, pasta, rotis, chapattis, packaged baked products, and
some noodles.
When person must visit to doctor:
People must visit to
doctor or allergist if they have food allergy symptoms shortly after eating.
Risk factors:
Following are the
risk factors to develop allergies:
1. Family history. People are at increased risk of food
allergies if asthma, eczema, hives or allergies such as hay fever are common in
their family.
2. A past food allergy. Children may develop a food
allergy, but in some cases it returns later in life.
3. Other allergies. If people have already allergic to
one food, they may be at amplified risk of becoming allergic to another.
4. Age. Food allergies are most common in children, particularly
toddlers and infants. As they grow older, digestive system matures and their
body is less likely to absorb food or food components that trigger allergies.
5. Asthma. Asthma and food allergy commonly occur
together. When they do, both food allergy and asthma symptoms are more likely
to be severe.
Factors that may
increase risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction include:
-
Having
a history of asthma
-
Being
a teenager or younger
-
Waiting
longer to use epinephrine to treat food allergy symptoms
-
Not
having rashes or other skin symptoms
Regrettably, most
doctors do not recognize how food sensitivities and food allergies can affect
those who suffer with irritable bowel, celiac, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis,
ulcerative colitis, eczema, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, lupus, MS, and heart disease.
People who experiences with swelling, gas, indigestion, reflux, and other
irritable bowel problems may not understand that the main reason for these
conditions are linked with hidden food allergies. These unidentified allergens,
if allowed to continue, will cause inflammation and deteriorate the immune
system.
Allergic reactions
are often minor, but it may sometimes be very serious.
Prevention and treatment:
When person
experiences food allergy, best way is to avoid that food. For a severe allergic
reaction, people may need an emergency injection of epinephrine and rush to the
emergency room.
In briefing note,
huge number of people suffer from some types of allergy in world. Food
allergies are mainly due to the exaggerated reaction of the immune system to
certain foods. It is recommended to closely watch foods that people consume. If
they are affected with some typical food, they must stop consuming, otherwise,
allergies can be very dangerous and may cost one’s life.
