Food Allergy-Symptoms and Treatment
April 20, 2010 by adarsh
Filed under General Health
Any allergy is referred as an immune reaction to an allergen or a foreign material. Food allergy is an immune reaction that is caused after eating a food item. Even a small amount of allergy causing food item can cause allergic reactions in the individual. It is found more in infants i.e. children less than the age of 3. However, it can affect people at any point of time. When the foreign food items enter the body system, the body releases certain antibodies in order to combat these food items. This causes allergic reactions.
The causes for food allergy depends individually i.e. different individuals are allergic to different kinds of food, such as: milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, meat etc. Allergic reactions start in individuals after consuming a particular type of food. The symptoms also vary individually. There are various symptoms in the individual, such as: itching or swelling in lips, wheezing, runny nose, coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, skin allergies, red or watery eyes, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, difficulty in swallowing, dizziness and headaches.
The food allergy can be diagnosed only through the symptoms. Certain blood tests can also be made to diagnose the food allergy. A provocation test involves in exposure of a person to a food item under controlled conditions and test for allergic reactions. There is no specific cure or treatment method to treat food allergy. Only the symptomatic treatment can be used to treat the symptoms. The next best method is the avoiding or preventing the consumption of allergic food items.
Consult your doctor once you find the allergic symptoms. For minor symptoms, an antihistamine can be used to reduce the symptoms such as itching and swelling. In case of severe allergic reactions, an injection of epinephrine can be used in doses as prescribed by the doctor. You can carry the injection always and you can use it on your own with the help of self-injectors. But make sure that the medicines are not expired.
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