Symptoms can be relatively mild and include: rashes, hives, itching and swelling or severe leading to trouble breathing, wheezing, loss of consciousness and even death.
A food allergy can be potentially fatal if the person has a severe reaction (anaphylaxis) and doesn't receive treatment quickly.
What are the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction? An anaphylactic reaction may begin with a tingling sensation, itching, or a metallic taste in the mouth.
Other symptoms can include hives, a sensation of warmth, wheezing or other difficulty breathing, coughing, swelling of the mouth and throat area, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramping, a drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness.
These symptoms may begin within several minutes to two hours after exposure to the allergen, but life-threatening reactions may get worse over a period of several hours.
A food allergy is an abnormal immune system response to the introduction of a food, an ordinarily harmless substance into the body.
A reaction usually occurs within minutes, or a few hours, after the food is ingested.
Food allergy occurs when the immune system gets confused and mistakenly attacks a food protein thinking it is an invading virus.
Ingestion of the offending food may trigger the sudden release of a chemical called histamine which results in the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Not so serious is a food intolerance which is an adverse reaction to a food that does not involve the immune system.
Reactions can be immediate or delayed by up to 20 hours after a food is eaten.
Eight foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy).
Some key points: •Food allergies are more common in young children than adults but can develop at any age.
•Food allergies are potentially life-threatening.
•Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is rapid in onset, and can cause death.
•Symptoms of allergic reactions typically occur within minutes to two hours after the individual has ingested the food to which he or she is allergic.
•Even trace amounts of an allergen can cause a severe reaction in some with a food allergy.
•Reactions are unpredictable - they can be the same, less severe than, or more severe than previous reactions.
You may be wondering if allergies can be prevented.
Scientists are undecided but there are studies being done to investigate whether individuals can build up a tolerance by repeated exposure to very tiny amounts of the allergens.
Studies such as these are only carried out under strict medical supervision and it is not something you should attempt on your own! Unfortunately no medication can be taken to prevent food allergies.
Strict avoidance of the allergy causing food is the only way to prevent a reaction.
Medications are administered to control symptoms after a reaction occurs.
Epinephrine is the drug of choice for treating an anaphylactic reaction.
It works to reverse the symptoms and helps to prevent its progression but must be administered as soon as a reaction is suspected.
Epinephrine is usually available by prescription in self-injectable devices e.
g.
EpiPen.
Antihistamines and steroids (e.
g.
prednisone) are often used to help the recovery of a person who has had an anaphylactic reaction.
A food allergy is an immune system response to a protein in a food.
The protein remains in the food during heating, therefore, you cannot make a food less allergenic by cooking it.
The exception to this is sometimes seen with egg and milk allergy; some individuals with egg allergy are able to consume egg or milk that has been extensively heated and in smaller amounts, such as in baked goods.
Again you should always consult your doctor or allergy specialist before trying this.