The ABCs of Food Allergies
Feb 10, 2009 Allergy
Approximately 8% of children and 2% of adults suffer from true food allergies. When the culprit food is eaten, most allergic reactions will occur within minutes. Skin symptoms (itching, urticaria, angioedema) are the most common, and occur during most food reactions. Other symptoms can include nasal (sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose and eyes), gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea), lung (shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness), and vascular (low blood pressure, light-headedness, rapid heart beat) symptoms. When severe, this reaction is called anaphylaxis, and can be life threatening.
Allergy or Intolerance?
Most reactions to food are probably not allergic in nature, but rather intolerance.
This means that there is no allergic antibody present against the food in the person. Intolerance can be classified as toxic and non-toxic. Toxic reactions would be expected to occur in most people if enough of the food was eaten, examples include alcohol, caffeine or in cases of food-poisoning. Non-toxic food intolerance occurs only in certain people, such as lactose intolerance, which is due to the deficiency of lactase, the enzyme which breaks down the sugar in milk and dairy foods. Patients with lactose intolerance experience bloating, cramping and diarrhea within minutes to hours after eating lactose-containing foods, but do not experience other symptoms of food allergies.
Non-allergic Immunologic Reactions
A less common form of non-allergic reactions to food involves the immune system, but there are no allergic antibodies present. This group includes celiac sprue and FPIES (food protein induced enteropathy syndromes). FPIES typically occurs in infants and young children, with gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, and weight loss) as the presenting signs. Milk, soy and cereal grains are the most common triggers in FPIES. Children typically outgrow FPIES by 2 to 3 years of age.
Common Childhood Food Allergies
Milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish and shellfish compromise more than 90 percent of food allergies in children. Allergy to milk and egg are by far the most common, and are usually outgrown by age 5 years. Peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish allergies are typically the more severe and potentially life-threatening, and frequently persist into adulthood.
Cross-Reactivity and Cross-Contamination
Cross-reactivity refers to a person having allergies to similar foods within a food group. For example, all shellfish are closely related; if a person is allergic to one shellfish, there is a strong chance that person is allergic to other shellfish. The same holds true for tree-nuts, such as almonds, cashews and walnuts.
Cross-contamination refers to a food contaminating another, unrelated food leading to a “hidden allergy”. For example, peanuts and tree nuts are not related foods. Peanuts are legumes, and related to the bean family, while tree nuts are true nuts. There is no cross-reactivity between the two, but both can be found in candy shops and in a can of mixed nuts, for instance.
Diagnosing Food Allergies
The diagnosis is made with an appropriate history of a reaction to a specific food, along with a positive test for the allergic antibody against that food. Testing for the allergic antibody is typically accomplished with skin testing, although can be done with a blood test as well.
The blood test, called a RAST test, is not quite as good of a test as skin testing, but can be helpful in predicting if a person has outgrown a food allergy. This is especially true since in many cases the skin test can still be positive in children who have actually outgrown the food allergy.
If the diagnosis of food allergy is in question despite testing, an allergist may decide to perform an oral food challenge for the patient. This involves having the person eat increasing amounts of food over many hours under medical supervision. Since the potential for life-threatening anaphylaxis exists, this procedure should only be performed by a physician experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. An oral food challenge is the only way to truly remove a diagnosis of food allergy in a patient.
Managing Food Allergies
Treat the reaction: If a reaction to the food is present, the person should seek immediate emergency medical care. Most patients with food allergies should carry a self-injectable form of epinephrine, or adrenaline (such as an Epi-pen, with them at all times. These medications can be prescribed by a physician and the patient should know how to use this device before an allergic reaction occurs.
Avoid the food: This is the main way to prevent future reactions to the culprit foods, although can be difficult in cases of common foods such as milk, egg, soy, wheat and peanut. Organizations such as the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network offer help and support to patients and parents of children with food allergies.
Allergy physicians can also offer additional information and advice on avoidance.
Read food labels: Since accidental exposure to the allergic food is common, reading labels on foods and asking questions about ingredients at restaurants is important and recommended.
Be prepared: Patients with food allergies should always be prepared to recognize and treat their reaction, should one occur. Remember, since exposures to the allergic foods are frequently accidental, being prepared to treat the reaction with epinephrine is paramount. Emergency medical care should always be sought if an allergic reaction to food occurs, whether or not epinephrine is used.
Communicate with others:Communication with family members, friends, and school staff about the patient’s medical condition and knowledge of how to administer epinephrine is also important. It is also recommended that the patient wear a medical alert bracelet (such as a Medic-Alert bracelet) detailing their food allergies and use of injectable epinephrine, in the case the patient is unable to communicate during a reaction.
Children’s Allergies To Dogs
Feb 8, 2009 Allergy
Children and dogs can be great companions, but what if your child itches and sneezes whenever he comes in contact with a dog? You can still own a dog in spite of your child’s allergy, but you just need to be more selective on what breed to choose.The cause of your children’s allergy is usually the dog’s saliva, hair or dander. Dander is the skin flakes and scurf that’s constantly shed from a dog’s skin. Symptoms of an allergy to dogs include red and itchy eyes, a runny congested nose, sneezing and wheezing.Fortunately, there are number of hypoallergenic dog breeds (also called low-allergy dogs or allergy-friendly dogs) available so your child can enjoy the companionship of a dog without any added health problems.Allergy friendly breed choices include:The Hairless BreedsThe Mexican Hairless Dog and the Chinese Crested Dog are unusual looking and because they have very little hair, if any, they can be good companions for children with allergies. However, they are not 100% allergy free, as they still shed dander which can cause an allergic reaction in your child.MalteseMaltese are adorable, fluffy little dogs that love babies, children and even cats. That out-going attitude is part of their natural fearlessness. They shed very little, but their soft, silky coat does require regular grooming to preventing matting. Keep in mind that toy varieties can be too fragile for children, so choose a Maltese larger than seven pounds.PoodleSurprisingly, the dog breed famous for its abundant hair is actually low-allergy. The toy size may be the best known, but poodles come in several sizes, ranging from toy (less than 11 inches) to standard (over 15 inches). These curious, acrobatic dogs are very intelligent and make great playmates. They require lots of interactive play and obedience training or they’ll invariably get into mischief. They don’t like to roughhouse, though, so children should be taught to play gently with them, and they need regular clipping and grooming.PuliIf you’re looking for a larger dog with an unusual look, the Hungarian Puli might just be for you. Highly intelligent, agile, and protective, these dogs are ideal both as watch dogs and companions for active children. Just remember that they were breed as working dogs, so they need obedience training and plenty of daily exercise to prevent boredom and behavior problems. Also, although their coat is low-allergy, it does require considerable care.A little extra work can also cut down on dog allergy symptoms. Vacuum the floor and furniture daily to pick up hair and dander. Regularly wash your dog’s bedding to make sure no hair builds up. Groom your dog as required for the breed. Be aware, though, that over-bathing can cause dry skin, which leads to more dander and more allergic reactions, so only wash as needed.There are medications such as antihistamines that can treat your children’s allergy to dogs. If the allergy is particularly severe, you can have desensitizing injections made which can stop your child reacting to the allergen.For most children, allergy problems don’t have to mean a childhood without pets. Choose a low-allergy dog like a Maltese, Poodle or one of the many other allergy-friendly dog breeds and your kids can have a puppy playmate to love without any sniffles or watery eyes.
Tags: Allergies, Children's, Dogs
All About Childrens Allergies
Feb 6, 2009 Allergy
Childhood allergies can be swift and frightening. Imagine a child happily snacking on peanuts one minute, then gasping for breath the next. It’s enough to make any parent afraid.But allergies have been a part of childhood for hundreds of years. Luckily, most of them go away by the time children reach puberty. In the meantime, you can keep childhood allergies from endangering your child with just a few simple steps.First, know which allergies are the most common. If your child has allergies, chances are good that their allergens are airborne (pet hair and dust); contact skin irritants (such as wool); or food (wheat, soy, or apples). Each type of allergy can manifest in a number of different ways. Of childhood food allergies, milk is the most common and peanuts are the most dangerous. Next, learn about childhood allergy symptoms and how to recognize them. Airborne allergens cause sneezing, coughing, itchy or watery eyes, and a runny nose. Allergens can also cause hives, rashes, or asthma-like breathing problems. Food allergies often cause gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. When allergies are severe, sufferers can have an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis causes swelling of the air passages. Without medical attention, victims can stop breathing and die.Milk allergies usually show up during the child’s infancy. This type of food allergy is very common, but not as severe as peanut allergies. Children who are allergic to milk might break out in hives or suffer from colic. Lactose-free formulas are one way to avoid this allergy.Peanut allergies are very serious; always watch your child carefully when feeding them peanut products for the first time. Children who are sensitive to peanuts can suffer from swelling of the mouth and tongue, hives, and difficulty breathing. They also risk life-threatening anaphylaxis. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical help immediately.The next thing you can do to protect your child from allergies is to talk to their pediatrician about testing and treatment. Allergy tests will reveal the allergens that your child is most susceptible to. Once these substances have been identified, it’s time to decide on a course of treatment.Mild allergies can be managed simply by avoiding or limiting contact with the allergen. The child’s pediatrician may also recommend nasal sprays or antihistamines to control airborne allergies. Food allergies are isolated by removing and reintroducing certain foods. By keeping track of which foods have been consumed on a given day, parents can figure out which foods their children are allergic to.Some allergies are more serious. These might require allergy shots or breathing treatments. These types of treatments involve low doses of corticosteroids. Steroids reduce inflammation, a common response to allergens.Natural allergy treatments are increasing in popularity. Children with breathing problems and coughs due to allergies can benefit from the herbal extract, butterbur. Butterbur promotes healing and respiratory health. Glucosamine, a popular anti-inflammatory, can help with bronchitis symptoms. Antioxidant fruit and vegetable pigments known as flavonoids also support the lungs. Because some asthma sufferers have exhibited a manganese deficiency, it’s thought that magnesium supplements can help control breathing problems. There are also natural substances that promote healing by helping the body replenish its cells more efficiently. Folic acid is one such supplement. A B-vitamin, folic acid stimulates new cell growth. M.S.M is another natural compound that has been studied as a treatment for seasonal allergies. It works by binding amino acids together and promoting strong connective tissues. This carries vital water and nutrients to cells, and helps toxins pass out of them easily. M.S.M has been found safe for short-term use.Finally, the enzyme lactase can be taken by children with lactose intolerance. Lactase helps children digest lactose, or milk sugar. Those who suffer from milk allergies rather than a simple intolerance will need to find a suitable alternative such as soy milk. Seek a doctor’s advice before making any dietary changes or giving supplements to your child.
Tags: About, Allergies, Children's