True food allergies affect a relatively small percentage of the population. It may be hereditary as it is found to occur most frequently in children with family histories of allergies. The term ‘food allergy’ is sometimes confused for ‘food intolerance’, but they are in fact different. The difference is in the way the body handles the offending food. Here are some facts on food allergies and food intolerance for kids which all mothers should know.
Food allergy, or hypersensitivity, is an abnormal response to a food that is triggered by the immune response. The most commonly affected organ systems and their symptoms include:
• Skin: hives, rashes, eczema
• Mouth: swelling of mouth, tongue
• Digestive tract: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps
• Respiratory tract: wheezing, asthma
In contrast, food intolerance is more common and the immune system is not responsible for the symptoms even though the symptoms resemble those of a food allergy. The problem lies with the body’s ability to digest the food, usually due to a chemical deficiency.
For example, difficulty digesting milk (lactose intolerance) due to lactase deficiency. Lactase is the enzyme required to digest milk sugar (lactose), hence deficiency causes abdominal discomfort and diarrhea after taking milk. However, people with food intolerance often can still tolerate some amounts of the offending food without experiencing symptoms.
To reduce the risk of your child developing food allergies, do not introduce solid foods till four months of age unless medically indicated, eg; if your baby has failure to thrive or has iron deficiency anemia. Some may even encourage introducing solids to baby at 6 months. It is prudent that a limited variety and quantity of the least allergenic foods are introduced first in the following progression.
Rice based cereal,
Pureed root vegetables (potatoes, pumpkin, carrots)
Pureed fruits (apple, pear, banana),
Other vegetables (spinach, broccoli),
Meat (pork, beef, lamb).
Only one new food should be introduced at a time and wait a few days before introducing another food. This is to enable identification of the offending food should there be any adverse reactions.
A strawberry allergy is an allergy to certain proteins found in strawberries. When people with an allergy are exposed to these proteins, they develop numbness and tingling in their mouths, along with other symptoms such as burning lips, intestinal distress, and congestion. In some cases, the bronchial tubes may swell and close, causing breathing difficulties and severe health problems. Many people with strawberry allergies also experience contact dermatitis when they touch strawberries or products with strawberry ingredients, which can cause the skin to turn red, puffy, and itchy.
Being allergic to strawberries is fairly common. Most people notice that they have a strawberry allergy because they experience the symptoms after eating or handling strawberries, and the allergy can be confirmed with allergy testing. The only way to manage a strawberry allergy is to avoid eating strawberries and products with strawberry flavoring. This allergy does not extend to other fruits and berries, as it involves a protein unique to strawberries.
Strawberries can turn up in surprising places. Their leaves are sometimes used in herbal teas and certain cosmetics, for example, and strawberry flavoring is used in medications and skin care products. Shampoo and conditioner may have strawberry extract, as can air fresheners and laundry detergent. Avoiding strawberry products can get tricky, but strawberries are usually disclosed on the labeling, as they are an expensive ingredient. People with strawberry allergies are safe around artificial strawberry flavoring, as this product lacks the proteins found in real strawberries.
Studies on strawberries and the blood of people with allergies to these tasty little berries seem to suggest that the protein is similar to that which causes a birch pollen allergy. Someone with a birch pollen allergy can develop a strawberry allergy over time. The red color also appears to play a role, as white strawberry cultivars do not cause allergic reactions. White strawberries are also less flavorful, and researchers are working on making them tastier so that people with strawberry allergies can enjoy these fruits.
In most patients, a strawberry allergy is not life threatening. It can be uncomfortable and irritating, especially when things like strawberry pie are served at parties and the patient must explain that he or she cannot eat the dessert. People with strawberry allergies should try to avoid the berries, however, as a more severe allergic reaction can develop at any time. They should make sure to inform hosts of dinner parties and restaurant staff about their allergy, to confirm that they will not be exposed to strawberry proteins during meals away from home.
Food allergy crops up when the immune system incorrectly strikes a food protein. This leads to the improper digestion of the offending food, which in turn triggers abrupt discharge of certain chemicals, leading to an allergic reaction. The symptoms of these allergies can branch out from mild to very serious. Here are some of the most common food allergies symptoms:
Remember, separate foods are associated with separate food allergies symptoms. For example, you will feel wheat and chocolates mainly cause headaches. Here is a list of symptoms and the food that cause them:
Asthma: eggs and flour
Allergies in Children: Wheat, milk, eggs, colas, beef, peanuts, chocolates, rye,
Headaches/ Migraine: Alcohol, peanuts, chocolates, milk, eggs, dairy products, tomatoes, wheat, chocolate
Eczema: oranges, tomatoes, grapes, Eggs
Nasal Allergies: chocolate, Milk, wheat, nuts, colas,
Hives: mango, Strawberries, tomatoes, eggs, chocolate
Fatigue: wheat, corn, milk, Soya
Apart from these, Peanut food allergy is known to be the most common and the most fatal food allergies. Unfortunately, since the past few years the prevalence of this allergy has only doubled.Hence, If you feel that your body reacts abnormally after peanut consumption, immediately stop and go to the doctor for further clarification.
Another very common allergy is the allergy related to Egg. If you refer to the above-mentioned food allergies symptoms, you will notice that most of them include eggs. Hence, if you are one of those people who have an allergy from eggs then make sure you check the Food labels of the products that you eat.
Showing posts with label nausea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nausea. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Airborne allergens
Airborne allergens can cause something known as allergic rhinitis, which occurs in about 15% to 20% of Americans. It develops by 10 years of age and reaches its peak in the early twenties, with symptoms often disappearing between the ages of 40 and 60.
Symptoms can include:
sneezing
itchy nose and/or throat
nasal congestion
coughing
These symptoms are often accompanied by itchy, watery, and/or red eyes, which is called allergic conjunctivitis. (When dark circles are present around the eyes, they're called allergic "shiners.") Those who react to airborne allergens usually have allergic rhinitis and/or allergic conjunctivitis. If a person has wheezing and shortness of breath, the allergy may have progressed to become asthma.
Food Allergy Symptoms
The severity of food allergy symptoms and when they develop depends on:
how much of the food is eaten
the person's sensitivity to the food
Symptoms of food allergies can include:
itchy mouth and throat when food is swallowed (some kids have only this symptom — called "oral allergy syndrome")
hives (raised, red, itchy bumps)
eczematous rash
runny, itchy nose
abdominal cramps accompanied by nausea and vomiting or diarrhea (as the body attempts to flush out the food allergen)
difficulty breathing
shock
Insect Venom Allergy Symptoms
Being stung by an insect that a child is allergic to may cause some of these symptoms:
throat swelling
hives over the entire body
difficulty breathing
nausea
diarrhea
shock
About Anaphylaxis
In rare instances, if the sensitivity to an allergen is extreme, a child may experience anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock) — a sudden, severe allergic reaction involving various systems in the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system).
Severe symptoms or reactions to any allergen, from certain foods to insect bites, require immediate medical attention and can include:
difficulty breathing
swelling (particularly of the face, throat, lips, and tongue in cases of food allergies)
rapid drop in blood pressure
dizziness
unconsciousness
hives
tightness of the throat
hoarse voice
lightheadedness
Anaphylaxis can happen just seconds after being exposed to a triggering substance or can be delayed for up to 2 hours if the reaction is from a food. It can involve various areas of the body.
Fortunately, though, severe or life-threatening allergies occur in only a small group of kids. In fact, the annual incidence of anaphylactic reactions is small — about 30 per 100,000 people — although those with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are at greater risk of experiencing them. Most anaphylactic reactions — up to 80% — are caused by peanuts or tree nuts.
Diagnosing Allergies
Some allergies are fairly easy to identify because the pattern of symptoms following exposure to certain allergens can be hard to miss. But other allergies are less obvious because they can masquerade as other conditions.
If your child has cold-like symptoms lasting longer than a week or two or develops a "cold" at the same time every year, consult your doctor, who will likely ask questions about the symptoms and when they appear. Based on the answers to these questions and a physical exam, the doctor may be able to make a diagnosis and prescribe medications or may refer you to an allergist for allergy skin tests and more extensive therapy.
To determine the cause of an allergy, allergists usually perform skin tests for the most common environmental and food allergens. These tests can be done in infants, but they're more reliable in kids over 2 years old.
A skin test can work in one of two ways:
A drop of a purified liquid form of the allergen is dropped onto the skin and the area is pricked with a small pricking device.
A small amount of allergen is injected just under the skin. This test stings a little but isn't extremely painful. After about 15 minutes, if a lump surrounded by a reddish area appears (like a mosquito bite) at the injection site, the test is positive.
If reactions to a food or other allergen are severe, a blood test may be used to diagnose the allergy so as to avoid exposure to the offending allergen. Skin tests are less expensive and more sensitive than blood tests for allergies. But blood tests may be required in children with skin conditions or those who are extremely sensitive to a particular allergen.
Even if a skin test and/or a blood test shows an allergy, a child must also have symptoms to be definitively diagnosed with an allergy. For example, a toddler who has a positive test for dust mites and sneezes frequently while playing on the floor would be considered allergic to dust mites.
Treating Allergies
There is no real cure for allergies, but it is possible to relieve symptoms. The only real way to cope with them is to reduce or eliminate exposure to allergens. That means that parents must educate their kids early and often, not only about the allergy itself, but also about what reaction they will have if they consume or come into contact with the allergen.
Informing any and all caregivers (childcare personnel, teachers, extended family members, parents of your child's friends, etc.) about your child's allergy is equally important.
If reducing exposure isn't possible or is ineffective, medications may be prescribed, including antihistamines (which you can also buy over the counter) and inhaled or nasal spray steroids.
In some cases, an allergist may recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots) to help desensitize your child. However, allergy shots are only helpful for allergens such as dust, mold, pollens, animals, and insect stings. They're not used for food allergies, and someone with food allergies must avoid that food.
Here are some things that can help kids avoid airborne allergens:
Keep family pets out of certain rooms, like your child's bedroom, and bathe them if necessary.
Remove carpets or rugs from your child's room (hard floor surfaces don't collect dust as much as carpets do).
Don't hang heavy drapes and get rid of other items that allow dust to accumulate.
Clean frequently.
Use special covers to seal pillows and mattresses if your child is allergic to dust mites.
For kids allergic to pollen, keep the windows closed when the pollen season is at its peak, change their clothing after they've been outdoors, and don't let them mow the lawn.
Keep kids who are allergic to mold away from damp areas, such as basements, and keep bathrooms and other mold-prone areas clean and dry.
Injectable Epinephrine
Food allergies usually aren't lifelong (although those to peanuts, tree nuts, and seafood can be). Avoiding the food is the only way to avoid symptoms while the sensitivity persists.
Doctors often recommend that caregivers of kids who are extremely sensitive to a particular food, have asthma in addition to the food allergy, or are allergic to insect venom carry injectable epinephrine (adrenaline) to counteract any allergic reactions.
Available in an easy-to-carry container that looks like a pen, injectable epinephrine is carried by millions of parents (and older kids) everywhere they go. With one injection into the thigh, the device administers epinephrine to ease the allergic reaction.
An injectable epinephrine prescription usually includes two auto-injectors and a "trainer" that contains no needle or epinephrine, but allows you and your child (if he or she is old enough) to practice using the device. It's vital that you familiarize yourself with the procedure by practicing with the trainer. Your doctor also can provide instructions on how to use and store injectable epinephrine.
Make sure kids 12 years or older keep injectable epinephrine readily available at all times. If your child is younger than 12, talk to the school nurse, teachers, and your childcare provider about keeping injectable epinephrine on hand in case of an emergency.
It's also important to ensure that injectable epinephrine devices are available in your home and in the homes of friends and family members if your child spends time there. Your doctor may also encourage your child to wear a medical alert bracelet. It's also wise to carry an over-the-counter antihistamine, which can help alleviate allergy symptoms in some people. But antihistamines should not be used as a replacement for the epinephrine pen.
Kids who have had to take injectable epinephrine should go immediately to a medical facility or hospital emergency department, where additional treatment can be given if needed. Up to one third of anaphylactic reactions can have a second wave of symptoms several hours following the initial attack, so these kids might need to be observed in a clinic or hospital for 4 to 8 hours following the reaction even though they seem well.
The good news is that only a very small group of kids will experience severe or life-threatening allergies. With proper diagnosis, preventive measures, and treatment, most kids can keep their allergies in check and live happy, healthy lives.
Reviewed by: William J. Geimeier, MDDate reviewed: July 2009
diarrhea
shock
About Anaphylaxis
In rare instances, if the sensitivity to an allergen is extreme, a child may experience anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock) — a sudden, severe allergic reaction involving various systems in the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system).
Severe symptoms or reactions to any allergen, from certain foods to insect bites, require immediate medical attention and can include:
difficulty breathing
swelling (particularly of the face, throat, lips, and tongue in cases of food allergies)
rapid drop in blood pressure
dizziness
unconsciousness
hives
tightness of the throat
hoarse voice
lightheadedness
Anaphylaxis can happen just seconds after being exposed to a triggering substance or can be delayed for up to 2 hours if the reaction is from a food. It can involve various areas of the body.
Fortunately, though, severe or life-threatening allergies occur in only a small group of kids. In fact, the annual incidence of anaphylactic reactions is small — about 30 per 100,000 people — although those with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are at greater risk of experiencing them. Most anaphylactic reactions — up to 80% — are caused by peanuts or tree nuts.
Symptoms can include:
sneezing
itchy nose and/or throat
nasal congestion
coughing
These symptoms are often accompanied by itchy, watery, and/or red eyes, which is called allergic conjunctivitis. (When dark circles are present around the eyes, they're called allergic "shiners.") Those who react to airborne allergens usually have allergic rhinitis and/or allergic conjunctivitis. If a person has wheezing and shortness of breath, the allergy may have progressed to become asthma.
Food Allergy Symptoms
The severity of food allergy symptoms and when they develop depends on:
how much of the food is eaten
the person's sensitivity to the food
Symptoms of food allergies can include:
itchy mouth and throat when food is swallowed (some kids have only this symptom — called "oral allergy syndrome")
hives (raised, red, itchy bumps)
eczematous rash
runny, itchy nose
abdominal cramps accompanied by nausea and vomiting or diarrhea (as the body attempts to flush out the food allergen)
difficulty breathing
shock
Insect Venom Allergy Symptoms
Being stung by an insect that a child is allergic to may cause some of these symptoms:
throat swelling
hives over the entire body
difficulty breathing
nausea
diarrhea
shock
About Anaphylaxis
In rare instances, if the sensitivity to an allergen is extreme, a child may experience anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock) — a sudden, severe allergic reaction involving various systems in the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system).
Severe symptoms or reactions to any allergen, from certain foods to insect bites, require immediate medical attention and can include:
difficulty breathing
swelling (particularly of the face, throat, lips, and tongue in cases of food allergies)
rapid drop in blood pressure
dizziness
unconsciousness
hives
tightness of the throat
hoarse voice
lightheadedness
Anaphylaxis can happen just seconds after being exposed to a triggering substance or can be delayed for up to 2 hours if the reaction is from a food. It can involve various areas of the body.
Fortunately, though, severe or life-threatening allergies occur in only a small group of kids. In fact, the annual incidence of anaphylactic reactions is small — about 30 per 100,000 people — although those with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are at greater risk of experiencing them. Most anaphylactic reactions — up to 80% — are caused by peanuts or tree nuts.
Diagnosing Allergies
Some allergies are fairly easy to identify because the pattern of symptoms following exposure to certain allergens can be hard to miss. But other allergies are less obvious because they can masquerade as other conditions.
If your child has cold-like symptoms lasting longer than a week or two or develops a "cold" at the same time every year, consult your doctor, who will likely ask questions about the symptoms and when they appear. Based on the answers to these questions and a physical exam, the doctor may be able to make a diagnosis and prescribe medications or may refer you to an allergist for allergy skin tests and more extensive therapy.
To determine the cause of an allergy, allergists usually perform skin tests for the most common environmental and food allergens. These tests can be done in infants, but they're more reliable in kids over 2 years old.
A skin test can work in one of two ways:
A drop of a purified liquid form of the allergen is dropped onto the skin and the area is pricked with a small pricking device.
A small amount of allergen is injected just under the skin. This test stings a little but isn't extremely painful. After about 15 minutes, if a lump surrounded by a reddish area appears (like a mosquito bite) at the injection site, the test is positive.
If reactions to a food or other allergen are severe, a blood test may be used to diagnose the allergy so as to avoid exposure to the offending allergen. Skin tests are less expensive and more sensitive than blood tests for allergies. But blood tests may be required in children with skin conditions or those who are extremely sensitive to a particular allergen.
Even if a skin test and/or a blood test shows an allergy, a child must also have symptoms to be definitively diagnosed with an allergy. For example, a toddler who has a positive test for dust mites and sneezes frequently while playing on the floor would be considered allergic to dust mites.
Treating Allergies
There is no real cure for allergies, but it is possible to relieve symptoms. The only real way to cope with them is to reduce or eliminate exposure to allergens. That means that parents must educate their kids early and often, not only about the allergy itself, but also about what reaction they will have if they consume or come into contact with the allergen.
Informing any and all caregivers (childcare personnel, teachers, extended family members, parents of your child's friends, etc.) about your child's allergy is equally important.
If reducing exposure isn't possible or is ineffective, medications may be prescribed, including antihistamines (which you can also buy over the counter) and inhaled or nasal spray steroids.
In some cases, an allergist may recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots) to help desensitize your child. However, allergy shots are only helpful for allergens such as dust, mold, pollens, animals, and insect stings. They're not used for food allergies, and someone with food allergies must avoid that food.
Here are some things that can help kids avoid airborne allergens:
Keep family pets out of certain rooms, like your child's bedroom, and bathe them if necessary.
Remove carpets or rugs from your child's room (hard floor surfaces don't collect dust as much as carpets do).
Don't hang heavy drapes and get rid of other items that allow dust to accumulate.
Clean frequently.
Use special covers to seal pillows and mattresses if your child is allergic to dust mites.
For kids allergic to pollen, keep the windows closed when the pollen season is at its peak, change their clothing after they've been outdoors, and don't let them mow the lawn.
Keep kids who are allergic to mold away from damp areas, such as basements, and keep bathrooms and other mold-prone areas clean and dry.
Injectable Epinephrine
Food allergies usually aren't lifelong (although those to peanuts, tree nuts, and seafood can be). Avoiding the food is the only way to avoid symptoms while the sensitivity persists.
Doctors often recommend that caregivers of kids who are extremely sensitive to a particular food, have asthma in addition to the food allergy, or are allergic to insect venom carry injectable epinephrine (adrenaline) to counteract any allergic reactions.
Available in an easy-to-carry container that looks like a pen, injectable epinephrine is carried by millions of parents (and older kids) everywhere they go. With one injection into the thigh, the device administers epinephrine to ease the allergic reaction.
An injectable epinephrine prescription usually includes two auto-injectors and a "trainer" that contains no needle or epinephrine, but allows you and your child (if he or she is old enough) to practice using the device. It's vital that you familiarize yourself with the procedure by practicing with the trainer. Your doctor also can provide instructions on how to use and store injectable epinephrine.
Make sure kids 12 years or older keep injectable epinephrine readily available at all times. If your child is younger than 12, talk to the school nurse, teachers, and your childcare provider about keeping injectable epinephrine on hand in case of an emergency.
It's also important to ensure that injectable epinephrine devices are available in your home and in the homes of friends and family members if your child spends time there. Your doctor may also encourage your child to wear a medical alert bracelet. It's also wise to carry an over-the-counter antihistamine, which can help alleviate allergy symptoms in some people. But antihistamines should not be used as a replacement for the epinephrine pen.
Kids who have had to take injectable epinephrine should go immediately to a medical facility or hospital emergency department, where additional treatment can be given if needed. Up to one third of anaphylactic reactions can have a second wave of symptoms several hours following the initial attack, so these kids might need to be observed in a clinic or hospital for 4 to 8 hours following the reaction even though they seem well.
The good news is that only a very small group of kids will experience severe or life-threatening allergies. With proper diagnosis, preventive measures, and treatment, most kids can keep their allergies in check and live happy, healthy lives.
Reviewed by: William J. Geimeier, MDDate reviewed: July 2009
diarrhea
shock
About Anaphylaxis
In rare instances, if the sensitivity to an allergen is extreme, a child may experience anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock) — a sudden, severe allergic reaction involving various systems in the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system).
Severe symptoms or reactions to any allergen, from certain foods to insect bites, require immediate medical attention and can include:
difficulty breathing
swelling (particularly of the face, throat, lips, and tongue in cases of food allergies)
rapid drop in blood pressure
dizziness
unconsciousness
hives
tightness of the throat
hoarse voice
lightheadedness
Anaphylaxis can happen just seconds after being exposed to a triggering substance or can be delayed for up to 2 hours if the reaction is from a food. It can involve various areas of the body.
Fortunately, though, severe or life-threatening allergies occur in only a small group of kids. In fact, the annual incidence of anaphylactic reactions is small — about 30 per 100,000 people — although those with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are at greater risk of experiencing them. Most anaphylactic reactions — up to 80% — are caused by peanuts or tree nuts.
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