Have you ever noticed that you or your child experience various discomforts when you eat certain foods? Sometimes it can be just a simple itch, but sometimes it can be a little more serious, up to difficulty breathing . So today we are talking about this food allergy , that is, food allergy . What is it really, why does it happen, what are the symptoms, how can we protect ourselves from it, and many other things, we will talk about it in a simple way that you can understand.
What is a food allergy?
Most often, young children develop these food allergies. However, adults can develop this condition at any age, even if they have never had any problems before. Simply put, a food allergy is a small mistake in our body's immune system.
Now think about it, our immune system is like the defense force in our country. It protects us from germs and diseases coming from outside. How does it do that? It produces special soldier-like parts called antibodies . These antibodies fight against harmful bacteria and viruses in our body and keep us healthy.
But, if you have a food allergy, your immune system mistakes something in some foods, like a protein that's actually harmless to your body, for a truly dangerous enemy. It's like the security forces mistaking an innocent citizen for an enemy.
This is exactly what happens with other allergies. That is, certain medications (such as penicillin), airborne pollen (from grass, weeds, trees), dust, or even foods like peanuts can cause this type of reaction. So, the important thing is, the food itself isn't actually toxic to the body, but it's how your body reacts to it that's the problem. Got it?
What are the most common food allergies?
In fact, anyone can be allergic to any food. However, the following foods and foods containing them are the most common causes of allergic reactions in our country and around the world:
- Peanuts and other nuts (e.g. cashews, almonds, walnuts)
- Seafood, especially shellfish such as shrimp, crab, lobster, and squid.
- Various types of fish (e.g., kelawallala, balaya)
- Milk, especially cow's milk and products made from cow's milk
- Eggs (especially egg whites)
- Soy and products containing soy
- Wheat and products containing wheat (such as bread, pasta, cakes)
- Sesame and products containing sesame
These are the ones that often cause problems. It's important to pay attention to whether your child or you feel anything unusual or uncomfortable after eating any of these foods.
What kind of reaction occurs in a food allergy?
Imagine a young child with a peanut allergy who goes to a friend's house and unknowingly eats a piece of chocolate cake with peanuts on top. What happens then? Because of the antibodies that were previously formed against the protein in the food, namely the peanuts, the body suddenly releases a large amount of various chemicals into the bloodstream. One of the main of these chemicals is histamine .
These histamines and other chemicals cause a variety of symptoms that affect the eyes, nose, throat, respiratory system (breathing passages), skin, and digestive system . A person with a food allergy can have a very mild reaction (such as a small rash) or a very severe, even life-threatening reaction . This reaction can occur immediately, within a few minutes of eating the food, or it can occur several hours later, sometimes two to three hours later .
What are the first symptoms that usually appear?
When someone starts having an allergic reaction, they may first notice these symptoms. One or more of these may occur at the same time:
- Nasal discharge (like mucus) or nasal congestion
- Red, itchy, watery eyes
- Red, swollen, and itchy patches of skin. These are usually very itchy. We also call these red, raised welts (medically known as `(Hives)` or `(Urticaria)`).
- A tingling, numbness, or slight swelling of the tongue or lips.
- Itching inside the mouth or throat.
As it gets worse, these symptoms may also appear:
As the allergy becomes more severe, the following symptoms may appear:
- Throat tightness, feeling like something is stuck in the throat, difficulty swallowing.
- Hoarseness of voice or inability to speak.
- Wheezing is a hissing sound coming from the chest when breathing, which sounds like a whistle .
- Persistent cough.
- Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath.
- Nausea (feeling like you're going to vomit).
- Vomiting.
- Severe stomach ache.
- Diarrhea (vomiting).
- Dizziness (vertigo) or feeling like you might lose consciousness.
The most dangerous condition: Anaphylaxis
In some severe cases, a food allergy can lead to a very dangerous condition called anaphylaxis . This is a sudden, severe, and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It involves multiple body systems at once. The skin, breathing, digestive, heart, and blood vessels can all be affected at once. Blood pressure can drop to very low levels, the airways (breathing tubes) can narrow, making it difficult to breathe, and the tongue, lips, and throat can swell.
Very important: People who are at risk of a severe reaction called anaphylaxis should be very careful. Also, it is essential to have an emergency action plan with special medications (e.g. epinephrine) to stop symptoms from getting worse in an emergency. We will talk more about this later.
There is good news. Most children outgrow allergies to cow's milk and eggs as they get older, around the age of 5-6. However, severe allergies to peanuts, other tree nuts, and shellfish can sometimes last a lifetime.
How do you know for sure if you have a food allergy?
Sometimes it's easy to tell if a child has a food allergy. They may develop hives or stomach pain or vomiting shortly after eating a suspicious food. However, sometimes it can be a little more complicated to figure out which food is causing the problem. Imagine a child eating a mixed fruit salad from the store and having an allergic reaction. If there were 5-6 types of fruit in that salad, it's hard to tell which fruit they're allergic to right away, right? Also, because some foods have so many ingredients, it's hard to tell whether the main dish or a sauce or seasoning is causing the problem.
Another important thing is that some people have a food intolerance, but it is not really an allergy related to the immune system. We call these food intolerances . For example, people with lactose intolerance experience stomach cramps, bloating, and diarrhea when they consume milk and other dairy products (such as yogurt and cheese). But that does not mean they are allergic to milk. The reason they have difficulty drinking milk is because their bodies lack the enzyme needed to properly digest the sugar in milk, lactose. That is a completely different problem from an allergy, and is related to the digestive system.
What does a doctor do about this?
If you think you or your child may have a food allergy, please don't ignore it. First, see your family doctor. He or she will ask you and your child about your symptoms, when they started, and what foods you ate, and will perform a basic examination.
If your doctor suspects that you may have a food allergy, he or she will likely refer you to an allergist or immunologist . This specialist will be the one who will diagnose the problem, perform the necessary tests, and prescribe the most appropriate treatment. He or she will ask you a lot of questions about your previous reactions, how long it has been since you first started having symptoms (such as hives), how long it has been, and whether anyone in your family has had allergies like this.
Skin Prick Test
Then, the specialist may decide to do a skin prick test . This is the most common test. This involves testing your skin to see how a small amount of the food you suspect is causing you irritation reacts to. The doctor will use a pure liquid extract of the food in question, and sometimes other commonly allergenic foods. The doctor will make a very small scratch (or prick) on your arm or back, and apply a drop of the liquid to the area. The different extracts are applied to different areas of the skin and left for 15-20 minutes. If you are allergic to the food, the area will become red, swollen, and a small welt will appear, as if you were bitten by a mosquito. You can get an idea of the level of allergy based on its size.
Other tests
Sometimes the doctor will take a blood sample and send it to a lab to test for specific IgE antibodies .
Remember: Even if your doctor gives you a very small amount of food to test for allergies, you should not do this at home! Also, don't say things like, "I'm suspicious of this food, I'll try it again to see if it's really the case." The best and safest place to get an allergy test is at a doctor's clinic or hospital. The staff there are specially trained for this. If you have a severe reaction, they can administer medication right away.
How are food allergies treated?
Unfortunately, there is no specific cure for food allergies. As I mentioned before, some allergies (especially milk and egg allergies in young children) go away with age, but others (such as peanuts, tree nuts, and seafood) may persist for life.
The only and best treatment for this is strict avoidance of the food that causes the allergy and any other food or drink containing that food.
One way to find out is to read the food labels of everything you eat and drink very carefully. You should look at the ingredient list of every packaged food or drink you buy from the store. The main ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction are usually clearly listed on the label, sometimes in bold. For example, when you buy a sauce, you may not even think that it may contain wheat or soy. So you should look carefully at the ingredients section of the label.
Some very sensitive people may even have to avoid other foods that are made in the same factory that makes the food that causes them problems. Because they are made on the same machinery, tiny pieces of the offending food can get into these foods (`(Cross-contamination)`). You may have seen things like chocolate bars that say ``May contain traces of nuts`` or ``Made in a factory that also processes nuts``. You should also be careful about things like that.
What if an emergency arises? Have a plan!
No matter how careful you are, sometimes you may accidentally ingest even a small amount of a food that you are allergic to. If that happens , first of all, don't panic. Follow your emergency action plan .
What is an emergency plan? After a doctor confirms that you have a food allergy, they will write you a plan like this. It clearly states what to do if you have an allergic reaction, who to notify (e.g. teachers, family members), what medication to take, how to take it, and how much to take.
This is especially important if you have a food allergy that can cause a severe reaction, called anaphylaxis . For severe reactions, some people are told by their doctor to always carry a medicine called epinephrine . This usually comes in the form of an epinephrine injection in an auto-injector that looks like a pen and is easy to carry (e.g., EpiPen, Anapen). Your doctor will teach you and your family how to use it. You, your parents, and your doctor can decide whether you should carry it with you or have a teacher at school carry it.
Very important: If you ever have to use this epinephrine injection, even if your symptoms subside, you must go to the nearest hospital or medical center immediately. Because sometimes the first reaction subsides and a second reaction (Biphasic reaction) can occur a few hours later. Therefore, it is essential to stay in the hospital under medical supervision for several hours.
Is it difficult to live with food allergies?
Having a food allergy can be a bit annoying and sometimes even a burden, but it doesn't have to ruin your or your child's daily life or happiness. Other adults and peers, such as your parents, family members, teachers, friends, can help protect you from allergic reactions. It's important to educate them.
But, what do you do if a food you love ends up on your "don't eat" list? Don't worry! With so many people having food allergies these days, food companies have introduced many delicious, safe substitutes to replace your favorite foods. There are now so many options available, from ice cream, yogurt, and cheese made without milk (dairy-free products), to bread, biscuits, cakes (gluten-free or wheat-free products), to nut-free spreads! So you don't have to miss out on delicious food.
So, what are the most important things we should remember from this story? (Take-Home Message)
Food allergy is a condition that requires a little care, but if managed properly, it does not interfere with living a normal life.
- Identify the allergy: If you or your child is experiencing persistent discomfort after eating a certain food, don't ignore it. See a qualified doctor, preferably an allergist, to find out exactly what's wrong. Don't rely on self-diagnoses or everything you find on the internet.
- Avoid the offending food completely: Once the allergy is confirmed, completely stop eating the affected food and everything that contains it. Get into the habit of reading food labels, and ask questions when eating out.
- Have an emergency action plan: Talk to your doctor and develop a written emergency plan, especially if you are at risk for anaphylaxis. Always carry an epinephrine auto-injector with you, if needed, and be familiar with its use.
- Inform others: Inform family members, teachers, and loved ones about your/your child's allergy. They can also help in an emergency.
- Don't worry, you're not alone: many people have these conditions. There are patient support groups that can help you, give you advice, and share your experiences. And you can now find safe substitute foods.
- Always follow your doctor's instructions: Always follow your doctor's instructions exactly. Go for regular check-ups. Talk to them if you have any questions or concerns.
So, with these things in mind, you can definitely live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life even with food allergies. If you have any further questions, be sure to consult a doctor.
` Food Allergy, Immune system, Histamine, Anaphylaxis, Epinephrine, Skin test, Allergy symptoms, Food labels
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