Food Alergy : Definition, causes, and Prevent
Food allergies are allergic reactions that occur due to our immune system mistakenly responding to proteins that come from food and think of it as a threat. One allergic reaction that can occur can be itching and rash on the skin .
Based on the substance triggers and the period of time the appearance of symptoms, food allergies are divided into three types, namely immunoglobulin E, non-immunoglobulin E, and a combination of both.
immunoglobulin E is one of the antibodies in our immune system. Food allergies that are triggered by the production of this substance are the most common type of food allergy and the usual symptoms will appear shortly after the patient has eaten.
As for food allergies that are triggered by antibodies other than immunoglobulin E, the time period for the appearance of symptoms will require a longer time or usually hours after the patient has eaten.
The last type of food allergy is a combination of immunoglobulin E and non-immunoglobulin E. People who suffer from this condition will feel the symptoms of both types of food allergies.
People with food allergies triggered by immunoglobulin E will usually experience symptoms of red and itchy rashes on the skin, tingling or itching in the oral cavity, difficulty swallowing, and swelling in the mouth, face, and other body parts. Rashes in this type of allergy usually appear on the surface of the skin.
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In addition to these symptoms, nausea and vomiting can occur, itchy eyes, sneezing or shortness of breath, dizziness or dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath.
In the case of non-immunoglobulin E food allergies, the main symptoms that arise are actually almost the same as the symptoms of food allergies mediated by immunogenicity E , namely the appearance of itching and rash on the skin. But the difference is, the texture of the rash in this type of allergy does not appear to arise. In addition there are those who experience symptoms such as atopic eczema, which is dry and cracked skin, red, and itchy.
Sometimes non-immunoglobulin E food allergies can produce symptoms such as those caused by other conditions outside allergies, so they may be misdiagnosed. These symptoms include:
Do not underestimate food allergies because in certain cases it can lead to a condition called anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction. The initial symptoms of anaphylaxis do look like normal food allergy symptoms, but in a very fast time, symptoms can worsen and the sufferer can experience the following:
If not treated properly, anaphylaxis can even cause death.
Allergies due to nuts are commonly experienced by children. In addition to nuts, children can also experience allergies after consuming milk, eggs, wheat, and soybeans. Milk allergies in children often cause mixed symptoms in allergic immunoglobulin E and non-immunoglobulin E , which is swelling and constipation.
Factors Increasing the Risk of Food Allergies
If you have allergies other than food allergies, your chances of getting food allergies are greater than those of people who have never had any allergies. In addition, if you have a history of asthma, the risk of food allergies is also higher because both conditions tend to occur simultaneously.
Your chances of getting food allergies are also higher if there are family members who have a history of allergies, biduran disease, eczema, or asthma.
The last risk factor is age. Infants and toddlers are more prone to food allergies compared to adults, because the selectivity of absorption of food substances in the digestive organs of infants and toddlers is still low.
Although food allergies tend to disappear when a person gradually grows up, in some cases this condition can reappear when they are adults. Especially for allergy sufferers of shrimp, lobster, and crabs, or allergy sufferers who often experience severe reactions, allergies can be permanent for life.
In diagnosing food allergies, the doctor will usually ask the patient's symptoms and medical history before deciding to do a laboratory test.
In addition to the time period of symptoms appearing after exposure to food, the severity, and duration of symptoms, the doctor will also ask about the frequency of occurrence of symptoms and what foods might be the cause.
The doctor will determine whether the patient has a family with an allergic history or whether the patient himself has a history of allergies, even if it is not a food allergy.
Further examination can be done to strengthen the diagnosis. The most common is a blood test to measure levels of allergic antibodies or immunoglobulins in the bloodstream.
In addition to checking antibody levels in the laboratory, another type of examination that can be done is a skin prick test. In this test, allergens from the extract of a food that is thought to cause allergies, are applied to the surface of the patient's skin. Furthermore, the patient's skin will be stabbed with a small, sterile needle so that the allergen enters the skin. If after an allergic reaction occurs, such as redness, itching, or swelling of the skin, it can be concluded that the patient is allergic to the allergen.
Another check that can be done is a food elimination test. In this test, patients will be asked to avoid a type of food that is suspected to be allergic for half to one and a half months. If the patient is allergic to this type of food, then during this time the patient does not experience an allergic reaction, and again experience it after the food is consumed again.
Blood tests and skin prick tests are usually performed on patients suspected of having a food allergy mediated by imonoglobulin E , when symptoms develop very quickly. While food elimination tests are usually carried out in cases of non-immunoglobulin E food allergies , when symptoms develop slowly.
Doctors can also do testing by asking patients to eat foods that are suspected to be allergic triggers in small portions but slowly improved. If there is no allergic reaction during the test, then the food can be consumed by the patient every day.
Please keep in mind that do not try to do your own food allergy test without supervision or guidance from a specialist to avoid harmful side effects, one of which is a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.
Actually there are no drugs that can cure food allergies. The purpose of drug administration here is to relieve allergic reactions that appear. Therefore, it would be nice if food allergy sufferers know and avoid foods that can trigger allergies in themselves.
Based on the severity of symptoms, there are two types of allergy medications commonly used. The first is antihistamine drugs. This drug is used to relieve allergic reactions or allergic symptoms that are still mild to moderate.
It is very important to consult a doctor before taking this medication, because there are several types of antihistamines that are not suitable for use for children under 2 years of age, such as promethazine and alimemazine .
The second type of allergy medicine is a drug that contains adrenaline. This drug is usually given by a doctor to treat severe allergic symptoms in cases of anaphylaxis by injection. Adrenaline is able to overcome breathing difficulties by widening the airway, and overcoming shock by increasing blood pressure.
The right time to go to the doctor
If you or your child has an allergic reaction shortly after eating a meal, it is recommended to see a doctor immediately. In addition to preventing symptoms from worsening, it will make it easier for doctors to make a diagnosis.
If you, your child, or those around you experience symptoms of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions, take it to the hospital immediately. Handling given as soon as possible will increase the chances of the patient to survive.
Based on the substance triggers and the period of time the appearance of symptoms, food allergies are divided into three types, namely immunoglobulin E, non-immunoglobulin E, and a combination of both.
immunoglobulin E is one of the antibodies in our immune system. Food allergies that are triggered by the production of this substance are the most common type of food allergy and the usual symptoms will appear shortly after the patient has eaten.
As for food allergies that are triggered by antibodies other than immunoglobulin E, the time period for the appearance of symptoms will require a longer time or usually hours after the patient has eaten.
The last type of food allergy is a combination of immunoglobulin E and non-immunoglobulin E. People who suffer from this condition will feel the symptoms of both types of food allergies.
Food Allergy Symptoms
People with food allergies triggered by immunoglobulin E will usually experience symptoms of red and itchy rashes on the skin, tingling or itching in the oral cavity, difficulty swallowing, and swelling in the mouth, face, and other body parts. Rashes in this type of allergy usually appear on the surface of the skin.
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In addition to these symptoms, nausea and vomiting can occur, itchy eyes, sneezing or shortness of breath, dizziness or dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath.
In the case of non-immunoglobulin E food allergies, the main symptoms that arise are actually almost the same as the symptoms of food allergies mediated by immunogenicity E , namely the appearance of itching and rash on the skin. But the difference is, the texture of the rash in this type of allergy does not appear to arise. In addition there are those who experience symptoms such as atopic eczema, which is dry and cracked skin, red, and itchy.
Sometimes non-immunoglobulin E food allergies can produce symptoms such as those caused by other conditions outside allergies, so they may be misdiagnosed. These symptoms include:
- The genital area and anus appear reddish.
- Digestive disorders .
- Constipation
- Heartburn.
- The frequency of defecation increases.
- The presence of mucus or blood in dirt.
- Pale skin.
- Fussing on babies.
Do not underestimate food allergies because in certain cases it can lead to a condition called anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction. The initial symptoms of anaphylaxis do look like normal food allergy symptoms, but in a very fast time, symptoms can worsen and the sufferer can experience the following:
- Increased heart rate is very fast.
- Breathing difficulties.
- The emergence of sudden intense anxiety and fear.
- Very drastic drop in blood pressure.
- Fainted .
If not treated properly, anaphylaxis can even cause death.
Foods that cause allergies
All foods have the potential to cause allergies. But there are certain types of food that are very common to cause these conditions, for example shrimp, lobster, crabs, fish, and nuts.Allergies due to nuts are commonly experienced by children. In addition to nuts, children can also experience allergies after consuming milk, eggs, wheat, and soybeans. Milk allergies in children often cause mixed symptoms in allergic immunoglobulin E and non-immunoglobulin E , which is swelling and constipation.
Factors Increasing the Risk of Food Allergies
If you have allergies other than food allergies, your chances of getting food allergies are greater than those of people who have never had any allergies. In addition, if you have a history of asthma, the risk of food allergies is also higher because both conditions tend to occur simultaneously.
Your chances of getting food allergies are also higher if there are family members who have a history of allergies, biduran disease, eczema, or asthma.
The last risk factor is age. Infants and toddlers are more prone to food allergies compared to adults, because the selectivity of absorption of food substances in the digestive organs of infants and toddlers is still low.
Although food allergies tend to disappear when a person gradually grows up, in some cases this condition can reappear when they are adults. Especially for allergy sufferers of shrimp, lobster, and crabs, or allergy sufferers who often experience severe reactions, allergies can be permanent for life.
Food Allergy Diagnosis
In diagnosing food allergies, the doctor will usually ask the patient's symptoms and medical history before deciding to do a laboratory test.
In addition to the time period of symptoms appearing after exposure to food, the severity, and duration of symptoms, the doctor will also ask about the frequency of occurrence of symptoms and what foods might be the cause.
The doctor will determine whether the patient has a family with an allergic history or whether the patient himself has a history of allergies, even if it is not a food allergy.
Further examination can be done to strengthen the diagnosis. The most common is a blood test to measure levels of allergic antibodies or immunoglobulins in the bloodstream.
In addition to checking antibody levels in the laboratory, another type of examination that can be done is a skin prick test. In this test, allergens from the extract of a food that is thought to cause allergies, are applied to the surface of the patient's skin. Furthermore, the patient's skin will be stabbed with a small, sterile needle so that the allergen enters the skin. If after an allergic reaction occurs, such as redness, itching, or swelling of the skin, it can be concluded that the patient is allergic to the allergen.
Another check that can be done is a food elimination test. In this test, patients will be asked to avoid a type of food that is suspected to be allergic for half to one and a half months. If the patient is allergic to this type of food, then during this time the patient does not experience an allergic reaction, and again experience it after the food is consumed again.
Blood tests and skin prick tests are usually performed on patients suspected of having a food allergy mediated by imonoglobulin E , when symptoms develop very quickly. While food elimination tests are usually carried out in cases of non-immunoglobulin E food allergies , when symptoms develop slowly.
Doctors can also do testing by asking patients to eat foods that are suspected to be allergic triggers in small portions but slowly improved. If there is no allergic reaction during the test, then the food can be consumed by the patient every day.
Please keep in mind that do not try to do your own food allergy test without supervision or guidance from a specialist to avoid harmful side effects, one of which is a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.
Food Allergy Treatment
Actually there are no drugs that can cure food allergies. The purpose of drug administration here is to relieve allergic reactions that appear. Therefore, it would be nice if food allergy sufferers know and avoid foods that can trigger allergies in themselves.
Based on the severity of symptoms, there are two types of allergy medications commonly used. The first is antihistamine drugs. This drug is used to relieve allergic reactions or allergic symptoms that are still mild to moderate.
It is very important to consult a doctor before taking this medication, because there are several types of antihistamines that are not suitable for use for children under 2 years of age, such as promethazine and alimemazine .
The second type of allergy medicine is a drug that contains adrenaline. This drug is usually given by a doctor to treat severe allergic symptoms in cases of anaphylaxis by injection. Adrenaline is able to overcome breathing difficulties by widening the airway, and overcoming shock by increasing blood pressure.
The right time to go to the doctor
If you or your child has an allergic reaction shortly after eating a meal, it is recommended to see a doctor immediately. In addition to preventing symptoms from worsening, it will make it easier for doctors to make a diagnosis.
If you, your child, or those around you experience symptoms of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions, take it to the hospital immediately. Handling given as soon as possible will increase the chances of the patient to survive.