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Journalism of Courage
Can eating a cookie kill you? No. Well, a 14-year-old American boy died recently an hour after he accidentally ate a peanut butter cookie. His mother said he was allergic to peanuts. His is not the only such case. A new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that an estimated 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies and about 150 die every year. There are, however, no such figures for India.
What is food allergy?
trigger a cascade of allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system.
Which foods generally cause allergy?
Although an individual could be allergic to any food 8212; fruits, vegetables or meat 8212; there are eight that account for 90 per cent of all food-allergic reactions. These are: milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts walnut, cashew, etc., fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.
What are the common symptoms of a reaction?
Symptoms range from a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and the throat, difficulty in breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness to death. Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after the person has eaten the food.
What is the best treatment for food allergy?
Experts say some people do get over allergies with the passage of time. 8220;But if that doesn8217;t happen, it is better to avoid allergens completely,8221; says Khosla. 8220;Allergy has no cure.nbsp;In case one takes the allergen accidentally, treatment with an antihistamine injection can help. Sometimes, the patient needs a stomach wash as well,8221; she added.
Is there a difference between food allergy and food intolerance?
Yes. Food intolerance is an adverse food-induced reaction that does not involve the immune system. A person with lactose intolerance lacks an enzyme that is needed to digest milk sugar. When the person eats milk products, symptoms such as gas, bloating, and abdominal pain may occur. A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to a certain food and creates antibodies.
How do you cope with the allergy?
Randomly taking a type of food out of your meals can leave you with an unbalanced diet, which, in turn, can cause other health problems. Seek the help of a doctor before making significant changes in your diet. Keep a food diary, for a fortnight or so, of everything you eat, what symptoms you experience, and how long after eating they occur. This information, combined with a physical examination and lab tests, will help the doctor determine what, if any, food is causing your symptoms. If your food allergy is established, avoid the food completely.
