Recognizing the Symptoms of Common Food Allergies

Information from the Mayo Clinic suggests that about 2 percent of adults in the United States suffer from some type of food allergy. In addition, child food allergies account for another 6%. While those numbers might seem small, with a total population of over three hundred million in the United States that translates to 6 million and eighteen million folks, respectively.

Much the same as other allergic reactions, food sensitivities come about due to an over reaction to an allergen by the immune system. In this case, the allergens are typically milk, eggs, peanuts, shellfish and a few other foods.

Responding to contact or ingestion, the body releases an antibody termed IgE (immunoglobulin E) because it sees the food not as nutrition, but a foreign invader. The allergy symptoms are produced as a result of the release of histamine, prostaglandins and some other compounds which are stimulated by the antibodies.

When compared with other allergic reactions, symptoms of food allergies are usually much more comprehensive. Sinus congestion and watery eyes are a possibility. But, they are usually accompanied with or overtaken by allergic skin hives (itchy red welts that form on the skin), swelling up of the lips, tongue or throat, wheezing, sickness and pain in the abdomen.

Anaphylactic shock can be the result in more serious cases. Anaphylaxis is a systemic (overall body) allergic reaction. It involves some serious symptoms such as lightheadedness, constricted airways resulting in breathing difficulities and a dramatic decrease in blood pressure. It happens very fast and if left untreated, can result in death. Upwards of two hundred deaths per year in the United States are attributed to anaphylaxis.

Sometimes, allergic reactions to food are localized. For instance, some folks will experience a tingling sensation in their mouth after eating fresh fruit or vegetables. The cause is considered to be proteins similar to those found in ragweed pollen.

Professional diagnosis by an allergist is the only way to determine if somebody suffers from food intolerance or a food allergy.

To determine if an individual has an allergy to certain foods, the allergist will carry out an allergy skin test. The doctor takes an extract of the suspect substance and exposes the person to it by inserting a tiny quantity below the skin with a lancet. The area of skin is then watched for some half an hour to determine if any itchiness or swelling occurs as a result of any reaction to the suspect substance.

In certain circumstances, a blood test might be justified. This measures the amount of IgE produced in response to consuming the suspicious food. However, this test it is not always conclusive.

An example of where the symptoms are alike but not the same as an allergy is lactose intolerance. This is caused by the genetic deficiency of a digestive enzyme that is required by the body to process cows milk safely.

The best line of defense for a person with a food allergy is to get rid of the problematic food from their diet and environment. For instance, folks with an known allergy to eggs should simply not consume eggs or products that are made with them. Others that have a sensitivity peanuts and peanut dust can by and large avoid coming into contact with it.

In the absence of any known cure for allergies, avoidance is the best medicine for the time being. Nevertheless, symptom relief is possible when accidents occur. Antihistamines are a good option 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. This can fend off a serious attack of anaphylaxis.

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