Food allergy is an abnormal response to food, mediated by the immune system. Typically, the immune system contributes to maintaining health by warding attack of the harmful bacteria and viruses.
In case of a food allergy, the immune system identify certain foods as harmful and cause an allergic reaction at their ingestion.
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Food allergies are usually more frequently at children than at adults. This may occur because the immune and digestive systems of children are not fully developed. A percentage ranging between 6% and 8% at children, but only 2% at adults have such allergies.
Food allergies occur mostly at people with atopic ground, which means that they have an inherited tendency to develop allergies. These people are predisposed to make asthma, various allergies and skin condition called atopic dermatitis.
Causes
The foods that cause most allergic reactions at children are eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, soy and fish. Some babies are so sensitive that if these foods are consumed by the mother, breastfeeding produces an allergic reaction for the baby. Most children are cured of allergies to milk, wheat, eggs and soy between the ages of three and five but the allergy to peanuts or fish rarely cures. Peanut allergy lasts usually for life and tends to worsen with time.
Celiac disease is caused by allergy to a protein (gluten) contained in wheat and other cereals.
Symptoms
Food allergy symptoms can affect many body parts, including gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itching and rectal bleeding. These symptoms occur more frequently at children than at adults.
Skin symptoms include hives, swelling, itching, redness and eczema. Respiratory System symptoms are coughing, wheezing, itching, sneezing and difficult breathing.
Risk
The risk of developing a life-threatening allergy is more often if:
The patient suffers from asthma The allergy symptoms are triggered within minutes after ingestion of food.
If a person or a child has a severe food allergy, he should always carry a first aid kit in case of occurrence of allergy and know how to use it. Such a person should always wear a bracelet of evidence of disease. Preparing for a prompt and appropriate treatment of a severe allergic reaction decreases the risk of exitus.