Food Allergy

by Doctor Laurence H. Miller on 09/16/13

Allergy is a condition in which a generally harmless (or healthful) substance injures a person because of the way they react to being in contact with it.

More people suffer from allergy today than ever before.  The exposure to the offending substance can be contact with the nasal lining, the eyes, the lungs (from inhaling it), the skin, or the mouth (when eating it).

The symptoms of food allergy can vary in people, and in the same person over time.

Many foods can be the cause of allergy.  The eight most common culprits are

Eggs

Wheat

Cow milk

Soy

Peanuts (which are not "nuts" at all, but legumes like peas that grow in the ground)

Tree nuts

Fish

Shellfish

Other foods commonly responsible include chocolate, berries, tomatoes, apples,

With a mild food allergy, the lips and gums may feel swollen and itch.  This is called "oral food allergy syndrome" and should be taken seriously as it can progress to full blown severe symptoms.  Frequently the feeling will leave on its own or with swallowing an anti-histamine allergy medicine such as Benadryl.  It is wise and logical to AVOID any food that you can connect to such a reaction.

A severe food allergy reaction can be life threatening.  The victim may later describe having the sense of "doom" upon them.  The throat and upper airway may swell so that breathing is impossible.  Blood pressure and circulation can fail sending the patient into "shock".  Without immediate treatment, they can die.  To buy time so the patient can get to a medical center for help, people who are known to have a severe food allergy are given an "epi-pen" to carry with them.  If they have a severe reaction they inject themselves and the adrenalin it contains can give them relief for fifteen or twenty minutes.  It is urgent that they head for a hospital after they've had the epi-pen injection.  The attack can resume even more severely as the adrenalin wears off.

Again, AVOIDANCE is the main strategy to prevent the illness.  Friends, relatives and restaurants must be notified of the patient's problem.

 

I'll review inhalant allergens in my next post.