Modern Health Therapy

We all think that food is good for health and its consumption should not cause any abnormal reaction. But the reality of many people in the world, who are allergic to certain foods. If you want to find out more about what is known as “food allergy”, do not miss this article.

“Ummm! The seafood is delicious! “I always said one of my patients. He loves seafood, especially shrimp, prawns and squid. But one day after a feast of seafood, the poor thing was very wrong. Nausea, vomiting and a sudden and noticed a large swelling in her mouth. She thought something had fallen ill, and the next time he could, again ordered a plate of shrimp. However, the scene was repeated. My patient now known to be allergic to shellfish. The penalty was given, not anything. It was his favorite food.

The case of this patient, is not an isolated case. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the U.S., about 12 million people in the country, including children and adults, suffer from food allergies or what is known as “food allergy”. (more…)

Treatment

For mild allergic reactions may be used antihistamines, or nasal sprays to relieve symptoms. Talk to your doctor about the best medication for your child.

Severe reactions require prompt medical attention. Epinephrine (usually through the Epipen) can save your life. Even if you use the Epipen, the child needs medical attention, because the symptoms may return once the medication stops acting. Should be instructed to all who care for the child to call 911 or take the child directly to an emergency room. (more…)

Often, the diagnosis of food allergy can be made by history: if a child has hives or a swollen face after eating something with (peanuts), for example, is likely to be allergic to cacahguates (peanuts). But because these symptoms can be so varied, sometimes the diagnosis is more difficult to do. Although a detailed diary of food intake and symptoms, and other information about food allergies in the family can be helpful, sometimes doctors need to test for the diagnosis. Two tests are commonly used:

Skin tests prick test for allergy detection is the most common because it is inexpensive, easy to do and generally reliable. It is made with a puncture in the skin with a solution of the suspected food. A positive test will give a similar reaction to a small bump. The disadvantage of this test is that it is uncomfortable and for children with eczema or other skin conditions the results can be difficult to interpret. In children with severe allergies, even a small amount of feed injected into the skin may cause significant reactions. (more…)

The following steps can help reduce the risk of emerging food allergies in infants and young children, especially those with family history of allergies:

- Do not include solid foods until 6 months.
- Breastfeed babies until they are 1 year minimum. However, you also need to avoid highly allergenic foods since allergens can be transmitted through breast milk. If breastfeeding is not possible, talk to your doctor about choosing a type of milk.
- Incorporate new foods in small portions and one to one. Control reactions for several days before entering a new food. Do not add foods that commonly cause allergies such as wheat, egg or fish until the second year of life.
- Wait before giving cow’s milk to a child until 1 year and peanuts (groundnuts) to 3 years. (more…)

Symptoms

It is not always easy to tell when a person has a food allergy, because there are many different symptoms. These include:

- rash (a rash high, pink and itchy)
- itchy throat
- stomach ache
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
- swelling, especially around the mouth and face
- irritated eyes
- nasal congestion / runny nose
- other rashes, including eczema
- wheezing or simply breathing problems
- difficulty swallowing
- rapid heart rate
- dizziness
- in infants and young children, slow growth or blood in the stool (more…)

A food allergy is a reaction of the body’s immune system to any ingredient in food, usually a protein, erroneously, the body acts like a germ or some other invasive and does his best to defend themselves.

Any food can cause an allergy, but is much more likely that certain foods do. In children, the foods that most commonly cause allergic reactions are:

- Groundnuts (peanuts)
- eggs
- milk
- soy
- wheat
- seafood
- nuts (more…)