Has your little one started to develop red, itchy rashes all over their body after eating a certain food? Or have you ever had a rash on your lips and difficulty breathing after eating certain foods, such as shrimp? You may have experienced this too. Most of the time, we call this a "food allergy." Medically, we call this a food allergy. Sometimes it can be very minor, but sometimes it can be life-threatening. So, let's get to know more about it today.
Simply put, what is a food allergy?
Simply put, this is a misunderstanding of our body's immune system. Normally, the role of our immune system is to protect us from disease by fighting harmful germs and viruses that enter the body.
However, something different happens in the body of someone with a food allergy. When they eat a certain food, the immune system mistakenly identifies certain proteins in that food (we call these allergens ) as something foreign, something dangerous to the body. The body then produces antibodies and other chemicals, especially histamine, to attack this "foreigner." It is the release of these chemicals that causes the symptoms we talked about earlier, such as itching, redness, and swelling.
The important thing is that sometimes even a very small amount of the allergenic food entering the body is enough to cause this reaction .
What are the most common food allergies?
Food allergies can occur at any age. However, there are slight differences in the types of allergies that are most common between young children and adults. Severe allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, in particular, have increased recently.
| Common Food Allergies | |
|---|---|
| Common among young children | Common among adults |
| Cow's milk | Peanuts |
| Hen's eggs | Tree nuts (such as cashews, almonds) |
| Peanuts | Fish |
| Tree nuts | Shelled sea creatures (Crustaceans - such as shrimp, crabs) |
| Soybeans | Mollusks (such as clams, squid) |
| Wheat | Some fruits and vegetables |
Be aware of these symptoms.
Symptoms can usually appear within a few minutes to two hours of eating an allergic food.
- Skin redness, rash, or hives
- Itchy skin, possibly an eczema-like condition
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, eyelids , or face
- Feeling like your throat is constricted
- Difficulty breathing, chest tightness (Wheezing)
- Cough
- Vomiting or diarrhea
Very important: Sometimes this condition can be severe and several symptoms can appear at the same time. For example, if you have difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, and hives, it could be a dangerous condition called anaphylaxis . It is life-threatening. In such a case, it is imperative to immediately go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).
How do you know for sure if you have an allergy?
This is where many people make a mistake. Some people do skin tests or blood tests on a bunch of foods that they suspect are harmful to them, and then stop eating every food that comes back positive. You've probably heard stories like, "The doctor told me these 20 foods are bad for me."
But the truth is different. These tests are very sensitive, so they can detect if you actually have an allergy. However, these tests are not very specific. This means that sometimes the test results can show a positive result even if you don't actually have an allergy. We call this "false positives."
Doing a lot of tests and then going after the wrong results will only make your life more difficult. It can even lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Therefore, the correct method is this:
1. Tell your story: What food did you eat when you had your symptoms? How long after you ate it did you have them? What were the symptoms? Tell your doctor these details clearly. This is the most important piece of evidence.
2. Seek medical advice: The doctor will listen to your story and, if necessary, order tests to confirm a few suspected foods.
3. Compare the results: The doctor will compare both your story and the test results to make the final decision as to whether or not you really have an allergy.
How to live with an allergy?
Unfortunately, the only treatment for a food allergy is complete avoidance of the food in question . This can be a bit challenging, but it is not difficult if you plan ahead.
- Read labels: Carefully read the ingredients list on every packaged food you buy from the store.
- Inform: If your child has an allergy, be sure to inform the teachers at school and daycare.
- Be careful at restaurants: When ordering food, be clear about the food you are allergic to. If necessary, ask the kitchen to notify you not to add that food to your meal.
- Medical Alert Bracelet: Wearing a Medical Alert Bracelet or Necklace can be very important for someone with severe allergies.
Will this allergy go away with time?
This is good news. Yes, some allergies do go away over time. Especially in young children, allergies to things like cow's milk, eggs, wheat, and soy are more likely to go away as they get older.
However, allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and seafood are usually lifelong.
Therefore, it is important to see your doctor every year or two to check if your allergy is still present. Never try a food you are allergic to at home alone. It can be dangerous.
Take-Home Message
- If you or your child develops unusual symptoms (itching, hives, swelling) after eating a certain food, suspect that it may be a food allergy.
- Don't go for a bunch of tests for nothing. First, see a doctor and explain your experience clearly.
- Only avoid a food allergy once it has been confirmed .
- If severe symptoms (difficulty breathing, facial swelling) develop, go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- Since some allergies go away over time, it is important to be retested periodically as directed by a doctor.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න