Allergy is the reaction that’s produced by the body’s immune system.
Food allergy is the body’s response to certain kinds of food or some ingredients in the food. The intensity of allergic reactions can vary from mild to fatal. Food allergy can develop at any stage in your life, though reactions are more commonly found in young children than in adults.
Symptoms Of Food Allergies
The symptoms of the reactions are based on where the body histamine is released. Food allergens are released in the body through the blood stream and can also trigger an attack in the skin, heart, blood vessels, nose and eyes. A sudden severe reaction can affect the entire body and cause a state of shock. Some adverse reactions can also occur without any skin symptoms. Symptoms may appear within a few minutes after a meal or after several hours.
In Digestive Tract
The most commonly affected areas are the mouth and throat. There can be itching around the mouth, throat and lips, redness around the mouth and the lips, and swelling. If the swelling is huge, it can cause breathing difficulty (asphyxia) leading to emergency treatment
A type of allergy which is seen around the mouth and throat is the pollen food syndrome or oral allergy syndrome. This reaction can be seen immediately after the intake of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts. It can cause itching or a burning sensation along with swelling of the tongue, lips and the uvula. If the food is swallowed, a reaction may be seen later in the GI tract causing diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion and cramps.
In Bronchi
The allergic reaction, whether mild or severe, affects the bronchi causing narrowing of the breathing passage. This is similar to having difficulty in breathing. Any difficulty in breathing causes wheezing sounds, tightness in the chest and cough. Sometimes the airways may become very narrow, causing almost nil breathing. Immediate attention has to be given to dilating the passage, in such cases.
Angioedema is a swelling of the soft tissues of the face, lips, tongue and eyelids. There can also be swelling of the larynx and the trachea causing obstruction of the breathing passages.
In Nose
Allergic reaction to the nose may cause a runny nose (rhinitis), nasal blockage, itching and sneezing, in addition to affecting other organs.
In Skin
Allergic reactions affecting the skin are usually dispersed through the blood stream. Hives (urticaria or nettle rush) is a common reaction which manifests itself as a red swelling rash and can be itchy or seen as patches across the body area. The rashes appear within 24 hours of food intake. Contact urticaria affects people who have had contact with food that they are allergic to.
Eczema
This is also known as atopic dermatitis. This is a painful, itchy, scaly rash that can be seen on skin folds like elbows, knees or the face. The rashes can increase if the person is sweating, wears synthetic clothing or has dry skin. Common food substances causing eczema are milk, fish, eggs and wheat products. In children, the symptoms can be seen all over the body.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylactic reactions are very severe, and affect one or more organs. It is a whole body reaction causing breathing difficulty and low blood pressure due to enlarged blood vessels. It has to be treated as an emergency life threatening situation.