Food allergies

Symptoms Of Food Allergies

The type and severity of symptoms change from one person to another. The symptoms include:

Skin symptoms

• Angioedema (swelling under the skin)

• Urticaria (itching)

• Flushing

• Warm feeling

Respiratory symptoms

• Chest tightness

• Wheezing

• Cough

• Swelling in tongue, palate, or uvular 

• Upper airway stridor (high-pitched breathing sound)

• Hoarseness of voice

• Sneezing

Gastrointestinal symptoms

• Vomiting

• Nausea

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea

Cardiovascular symptoms

• Tachycardia (increased heart rate)

• Bradycardia (decreased heart rate)

• Chest pain

• Hypotension (decreased blood pressure)

• Syncope (fainting)

• Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rate)

• Heart palpitations

Neurological symptoms

• Headache

• Altered mental status

• Seizure

• Dizziness

General symptoms

• Anxiety

• Pallor

• Weakness
  
  
  

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  Food and skin allergies are very common in children. Read about the common causes of skin allergies in kids.
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Causes Of Food Allergies

Food allergies refer to an abnormal immunologic response to a food that occurs in a susceptible person. These reactions happen each time the food is ingested and they are often not dose-dependent. Based on the immunological mechanism involved, food allergies may be caused due to the following responses:

• IgE-mediated: These are mediated by antibodies belonging to the Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and are the best-characterized food allergic reactions.

• Cell-mediated: When the cell component of the immune system is responsible for food allergy and primarily involves the gastrointestinal tract. 

• Mixed IgE mediated-cell mediated: When both IgE and immune cells are involved in the reaction.

Foods that can commonly cause allergic reactions

In young children

• Cow’s milk 

• Egg 

• Peanut 

• Soy 

• Tree nut

• Shellfish

In adults

• Shellfish

• Peanut

• Tree nut

• Fish

Do you want to know which food you are allergic to? There is a test for it that measures the levels of allergen-specific antibodies.
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Risk Factors For Food Allergies

There is no way to accurately predict who will develop a food allergy, but there are certain factors that can act as increase the risk and they include:

Risk factors during pregnancy 

• Tobacco smoke: Exposure to smoking increases the risk of sensitization to food allergens.

• Unbalanced diet: Studies have shown a link between maternal diet and risk of childhood asthma and other allergic diseases.

Risk factors during childbirth

• Birth via cesarean section: Children born through cesarean section might have an increased risk of developing food allergies.

Risk factors after childbirth

• Gut microbiota: The presence of specific bacterial strains can influence the development of food allergy

• Infections: Exposure to infections in early childhood might increase susceptibility to allergic disease by altering the development of the immune system.

• Age of the introduction of solid foods: Introduction of solids into a child's diet from the age of 7 months or later is associated with a higher risk of food allergy or intolerance.

Other risk factors

• Family history of allergic diseases: Having a single family member with a history of the allergic disease increases the risk of food allergy in the child.
• Infant eczema: Studies suggest that any break in the skin (which can happen due to eczema) increases the chances of exposure to the allergen.

• Vitamin D deficiency: A deficiency of vitamin D is considered a possible risk factor for food allergy development.
• Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs): These are derived from cooked meat, oil, and cheese, and have a high concentration of sugar. AGEs initiate signals, leading to the development of food allergies.

• Age: Food allergies are more common in children, especially toddlers and infants. 

• Asthma: Asthma and food allergy commonly occur together. Also, individuals with food allergies have a higher risk of developing asthma and rhinitis.

• Race: Racial differences have also been associated with a higher prevalence of food allergy. 

• Sex: Males are known to be at a higher risk of food allergies than females. 

Diagnosis Of Food Allergies

Clinical history along with allergy and other lab tests are used in the identification of allergen triggers. These include:

Patient’s history and examination

The patient’s clinical history and examination are the first-line approaches in diagnosing food allergy. It includes a systematic review of the patient’s diet, the timing of the first and last occurrences of similar allergic reactions, and history that considers the symptoms of allergic reactions to food.

Laboratory tests

1. Skin prick test (puncture or scratch test): This test inspects for immediate allergic reactions to different allergens at the same time. It is usually performed on the forearm in adults and on the upper back in children.

2. Serum-specific IgE: This test was known as RAST(Radioallergosorbent testing). It measures how much IgE your body makes in response to a single allergen and is preferred when the skin prick test (the favored allergy test) is not suitable or not available.

3. Atopy patch tests (APT): This test is used to assess delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions.

Other tests

1. Oral food challenge (OFC): The gold standard for food allergy diagnosis. During this test, the allergist feeds the suspect food in measured doses. With each dose, the allergist will watch the individual for a period of time for any signs of a reaction.

2. Endoscopy and biopsy: These may not be very useful for the detection of food allergy, but are used to diagnose non-IgE-mediated disorders.

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Prevention Of Food Allergies

Dealing with food allergies can be daunting. As all know prevention is better than cure, strategies for the prevention of food allergy might include primary prevention, which seeks to prevent the onset of the reaction, and secondary prevention, which seeks to interrupt the development of the reaction. They include:

Prevention in pregnant women

Some food allergies develop in the womb itself, and unborn children may be sensitized to the foods their mothers consume. 

Understand what foods to avoid during pregnancy and more diet tips. 
Prevention in breastfeeding mothers
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It has been hypothesized that mothers may inadvertently sensitize their children to certain foods through breast milk, but there is little evidence that changing what mothers consume when breastfeeding prevents food allergies in infants.

What does every new mother need to know? Read more about 5 foods to eat while breastfeeding.
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Prevention during infancy

Prevention for older children and adults

The prevention strategies for children and adults include:

Avoidance of allergens: This is very important but not always easy. Some allergens are easier to avoid than others, if avoiding an allergen is difficult, try to reduce your contact with it.

Taking medicines as prescribed: They can be helpful for managing the symptoms of an allergic reaction. 

Maintaining a diary: this is to track what you eat when symptoms occur and what seems to help. This may help you and your doctor find what causes or worsen your symptoms.

Eat 2 hours before exercise: Some food allergies can be triggered by exercise, so to prevent that from happening, eating 2 hours prior to exercise is a good practice.

Specialist To Visit

Food allergies can lead to severe allergic reactions that become a medical emergency. Always be prepared and contact the emergency department of the nearest hospital in case of severe food allergy. Doctors that can help you with this are:

• General physician

• Allergist

• Immunologist

• Dietician

• Pediatrician

An allergist is a medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. An immunologist is a doctor who diagnoses, treats, and works to prevent immune system disorders.

If you notice any symptoms of food allergy, seek advice from our world-class professionals. 
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Treatment Of Food Allergies

There is currently no treatment for food allergy, except for avoidance of the responsible food/ foods. Once a food allergy is diagnosed, strict elimination of the offending food allergen from the diet is necessary.

In the case of accidental exposure

The treatment of choice during accidental exposure leading to a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), adrenaline (epinephrine) injection is used. It is administered by intramuscular injection into the thigh. 

Medicines to manage the symptoms

Several medicines are available in the market for initial immediate treatment of food allergy like:

1. Antihistamines: They can relieve gastrointestinal symptoms, hives, sneezing, and a runny nose.

2. Bronchodilators: They can relieve the symptoms of asthma, however, they are not effective in preventing an allergic reaction when taken prior to eating the food.

Know how to tackle allergies in the risk-free way.
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Home-care For Food Allergies

The best way to avoid unpleasant symptoms of a food allergy is by avoiding the food entirely. Though the list of remedies that can work for food allergies is short , it can be very effective. If there is a mild reaction here are some home remedies that can prove beneficial to relieve the food allergy symptoms:

• Ginger (Adrak): Ginger is believed to help speed up digestion, which may benefit those with stomach discomfort and indigestion caused by trigger foods. It can also prevent gas and reduce bloating and cramping.

• Probiotics: Unbalanced bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can play a role in many chronic conditions, including food allergies. Probiotics have been found to be preventive and therapeutic against food allergies.

• Lemon (Nimbu): Lemons are high in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps maintain a robust immune system and protects against infection and disease.

• Green tea: Green tea is rich in antioxidants and can help fight inflammation. There are certain studies that suggest that green tea can hinder mast cell activation and block histamines, which can be helpful for allergic reactions.

• Carrots (Gajar): Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to increase immune cell numbers and activity.

Drinking large amounts can lead to carotenemia, which can cause your skin to turn slightly yellowish.

Read more about the benefits of carrots that are good for your health. 
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Complications Of Food Allergies

Food allergy is an important public health problem that affects children and adults. Food allergy complications include:

• Anaphylaxis: It is a life-threatening condition that can lead to constriction and tightening of the airways.

• Respiratory distress: Exposure to food allergens can trigger respiratory symptoms like isolated asthma or rhinitis in rare cases.

• Heart attack: Cardiovascular symptoms can be the sole manifestation of exercise-induced food allergies.

Alternative Therapies For Food Allergies

Food allergies can be irritating, but the mild ones do not generally cause a lot of problems. Apart from regular medications, there are other therapies as well that have proven to be beneficial. Some of them include:

Chinese herbal therapies

Studies suggest that an herb-based formula (FAHF-2) used in traditional Chinese medicine may be an effective approach to food allergy treatment that is not specific to any one food allergen and can be potentially used to treat multiple food allergies

Acupuncture

It is the practice of inserting hair-thin needles into the body at strategic points to relieve specific symptoms. Acupuncture supports the immune system and can relieve symptoms associated with seasonal and food allergies.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy works by correcting the immune responses of individuals rather than suppressing or modifying the immune system. It has proven to be beneficial for individuals with allergic reactions or allergic diseases.

Read about 6 homeopathy facts that everyone should know.

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Living With Food Allergies

Food allergies are not very serious and do not affect the quality of life in most cases. All you need to do is make certain lifestyle modifications and learn to manage in case of emergency. A number of general strategies and tips may be helpful in managing food allergies. A few of them include:

Always read the food labels

Read every label, every time to see whether any additives contain milk protein or byproducts of wheat, or whether a food was produced in a facility that processes nuts. Manufacturers frequently change ingredients and an allergen may be part of a new formulation.

Take care while cooking

It's a good idea to have two sets of cooking and eating utensils one exclusively for the allergic person and all dishes and utensils should be thoroughly washed in hot, soapy water between uses.

Be extra cautious while dining out

Dining out may seem fun, but if an unknown food allergen is consumed by mistake it can lead to complications. So it is wise to let the manager or chef know about the food allergy before placing the order. 

Wear a medical ID bracelet

Make sure it lists relevant information about your food allergy and always carry your medication, ideally two doses. 

Know what to do during an allergic reaction 

If someone is suffering from a severe allergic reaction the:

• Call the local medical emergency number immediately.

• See If the person is carrying an epinephrine auto-injector 

• Help the person inject the medication by pressing the autoinjector against the person's thigh.

• Make the person lie face up and be still.

• Loosen their tight clothing and cover the person with a blanket. 

• Turn the person to the side to prevent choking if there's vomiting or bleeding from the mouth.

• Position the patient in the Trendelenburg position i.e lying flat on the back with legs elevated in order to allow blood flow to the heart.

• If there are no signs of breathing, coughing, or movement, begin CPR (start uninterrupted chest presses about 100 every minute).

Correct first aid can help save a life! Know more about step-by-step instructions for emergency management.

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