Food Allergies

Food allergy is characterized by certain symptoms in various parts of the body.

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It is due to some specific reactions in the immune system triggered by food and it is because of the abnormal response to food. Food poisoning, toxic reactions and food intolerance are not food allergies and they are also having abnormal response to food but have different mechanisms and entirely different from the immunological reaction responsible for food allergy. However, clinically very few only have proven allergic reactions to food. It is true though the food allergies are milder but in rare cases it is fatal.

The allergens are protein components of the food that are responsible for encouraging an allergic reaction. These proteins are able to resist heat of cooking, acid in the stomach and digestive enzymes.

Due to this ability of resistance it is not digested when taken in the food, they reaches the internal organs through blood stream and causes allergic reactions of the body. The locations of reaction occurring are not limited.

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There are two components that are involved in the allergic reaction. One is immunoglobulin E (IgE) and another one is called the mast cells. IgE is a circulating substance in the blood stream and the mast cells are found in the body tissues like nose, throat, skin, gastrointestinal tract and lungs.

Heredity plays an important roll in food allergy and usually a person is less affected with one allergic parent than the person with two allergic parents. Generally, the persons are mostly affected who is coming from the family in which allergy is common.

Generally, allergic reaction to food occurs only after a person is initially exposed to certain allergic food or he is being sensitized.  During the initial exposure to allergic food, the allergen induces or stimulates the lymphocytes to produce specific antibodies (IgE) to specific food and this released IgE attaches with the mast cells in their surfaces. When the person takes the same food for the second or next time, the allergens sharpens the IgE antibody attached to the mast cells of the tissue and in turn the specific IgE activates and induces the mast cells to produce and release a copious amount of chemicals and histamines which causes various symptoms in the body according to the tissues to which they attach.

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Food allergy can expose the allergic symptoms within few minutes to an hour after eating. The allergen reaches various tissues of the body and it may cause various symptoms. Diarrhea is the most common symptoms among all and also it is most common in confusing other different mechanisms like food intolerance with food allergy. In the initial stage of allergy one may feel itching over lips and in the later stage when the allergen reaches various body tissues, it presents such symptoms like asthma, hives, eczema, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Usually, they are mild, but in rare cases anaphylaxis occurs and severe form of this condition are always fatal. (Anaphylaxis is the allergic reaction that spreads quickly to several organs at the same time and severe form causes death)

Food allergies commonly begin in the first or second year of life. Some of them disappear in the later stage and some are permanent. Some children are prone to have allergies with cow’s milk or soy milk which commonly cause watery stool. The diagnosis of food allergy in infants is made by changing the diet from cow’s milk to soy formula or breast milk.

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There are many conditions that resembles food allergy such as histamine toxicity, food additives, lactose intolerance and food poison. There are many common foods that causes food allergy in adults. Examples are various shellfishes like shrimp, lobster and crab. Eggs, fishes and certain legumes like peanut are also included.

In diagnosis process, it is very important to differentiate the true food allergy from other conditions that mimics food allergy. Dietary diary and elimination of food helps in finding the specific food that causes the allergic reaction and treatment is based on avoidance of the particular or offending food that causes food allergy in individuals.

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3. Diagnosis of Food Allergy
4. Upward trend of food allergies in US kids
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