Different Types of Food Allergies
March 8th, 2010Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for food allergy symptoms. While one may take Benadryl to reduce the activity of the histamines, there is no way to tell the immune system to stop recognizing certain harmless proteins as antagonists. The only hope people with food allergies really have is that they’ll be successful at avoiding their allergic reaction triggers and that they may one day outgrow this immune system malfunction. In this article, you will learn about some of the most common food-related allergies reported by Americans.
Experiencing an allergic reaction to peanuts is one of the most common types of food related allergies. Shortly after being exposed to peanuts, the allergic individual may experience a skin reaction like hives, redness or swelling. Their mouth and throat may itch, tingle or swell. They may have digestive problems such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea or vomiting. In the worst cases, the airways may become constricted, the pulse may increase and there could be a severe drop in blood pressure resulting in shock. Peanut allergies are the most common cause of anaphylaxis, a medical emergency that requires an adrenaline injection. People with this type of allergy must be careful to avoid all exposure to peanuts, including direct skin contact, inhaling, consuming or eating cross-contaminated products. Peanuts can be found in cookies, pastries, mixed nuts, energy bars, ice cream, cereals, granola, grain breads, marzipan and even products like nougat, salad dressings, chocolates, sunflower seeds and Arachis oil.
Another one of the most prevalent food allergies is the milk allergy. This allergy is caused by two types of protein found in milk; casein and whey. Generally, a few minutes or hours after consuming milk, the individual will begin wheezing, vomiting or will have hives. Over time, other allergy symptoms may turn up, like loose stools, diarrhea, cramps, runny nose, watery eyes or colic (in babies). An allergy to milk is differentiated from lactose intolerance because allergies involve the immune system attacking the body. On the other hand, a food related intolerance involves the digestive system, with other problems like bloating, gas, diarrhea and vomiting. The only way to treat milk allergies is through avoidance of dairy.
While most food allergies are not life-threatening, it’s important to be prepared for emergencies. Even people who have had only mild reactions in the past are at a higher risk of developing more serious reactions later. A severe anaphylactic reaction can be treated with an emergency injection of adrenaline/epinephrine. People who are at risk of having severe reactions due to milk, wheat, egg or peanuts may need to carry self-injectable epinephrine, like the EpiPen with them at all times. For milder symptoms, patients may take medications like antihistamines to reduce itching and swelling.
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