Content
Food allergy is a situation characterized by an inflammatory reaction that is triggered by a substance present in the food, drink from the food additive consumed, which can lead to the appearance of symptoms in different parts of the body such as hands, face, mouth and eyes, in addition to it can also affect the gastrointestinal and respiratory system when the inflammatory reaction is very severe.
In most cases the symptoms of food allergy are mild, itching and redness of the skin, swelling in the eyes and a runny nose, for example, however when the body's reaction is very severe the symptoms can put the person's life at risk , as there may be a feeling of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
Thus, it is important to identify the food responsible for the allergy so that its consumption can be avoided and, thus, reduce the risk of complications. However, if you have contact with the food causing the allergy, the doctor may recommend the use of antihistamines to relieve symptoms and discomfort.
Food allergy symptoms
Symptoms of food allergy can appear up to 2 hours after the consumption of the food, drink or food additive responsible for triggering the inflammatory reaction in the body. Symptoms can vary from person to person, the most common being:
- Itching and redness of the skin;
- Red and swollen plaques on the skin;
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, ears or eyes;
- Canker sores;
- Stuffy and runny nose;
- Feeling of discomfort in the throat;
- Abdominal pain and excessive gas;
- Diarrhea or constipation;
- Burning and burning when evacuating.
Although the symptoms appear more frequently on the hands, face, eyes, mouth and body, the inflammatory reaction can be so severe that it can affect the gastrointestinal system, and the person may experience nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort, or the respiratory system, resulting in difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, which is known as anaphylactic shock, which must be treated immediately to avoid further complications. Learn how to identify anaphylactic shock and what to do.
Thus, to avoid the development of the most severe symptoms of food allergy, it is important that as soon as the first symptoms of allergy appear, the person takes the medication indicated by the allergist. In cases where the person feels discomfort in the throat or difficulty breathing, the recommendation is to go to the nearest emergency room or hospital so that the necessary measures are taken to promote the relief of symptoms.
Main causes
Food allergy can be triggered by any substance present in the food or food additive, being more common to happen in people who have a family history of allergy.
Although it can be caused by any food, the symptoms of food allergy are in most cases related to the consumption of seafood, peanuts, cow's milk, soy and oilseeds, for example. See more details on the main causes of food allergy.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of food allergy should be made by the allergist initially by analyzing the symptoms that the person may report after consuming a certain food. However, to confirm which agent is the cause of the allergy, allergy tests on the skin or blood may be indicated.
Generally, when there is no suspicion about what may be causing the allergy, the doctor begins by testing the most allergenic foods such as peanuts, strawberries or shrimp, with the diagnosis being made by excluding parts until the responsible food is reached.
The skin allergy test consists of observing the symptoms that appear on the skin after the application of different extracts of foods known to cause allergy, allowing them to act for about 24 to 48 hours. After that time, the doctor will then check whether the test was positive or negative, noting if there was redness, hives, itching or blisters on the skin.
On the other hand, the blood test consists of collecting a little blood that is going to be analyzed in the laboratory, through which the presence of allergens in the blood is identified, which indicates whether or not there was an allergic reaction. This blood test is usually done after an oral provocation test, which consists of eating a small amount of the food that causes allergy, then observing whether or not allergy symptoms appear.
Treatment of food allergy
The treatment for food allergy depends on the severity of the symptoms presented, which can vary from person to person, however this is usually done with antihistamine drugs such as Allegra or Loratadine or with corticosteroids such as Betamethasone, which serve to relieve and treat the symptoms of allergy. See how the treatment of food allergy is done.
In addition, in the most severe cases where anaphylactic shock and shortness of breath occurs, treatment is done with the injection of adrenaline, and it may also be necessary to use an oxygen mask to help with breathing.