Food Allergy Symptoms and Testing
Once a person is suffering from food allergy, it means that your body reacts to a specific kind of substance and food. Some experts are calling food allergy as food hypersensitivity. Once you are suffering from food allergy, you have to be aware of the possible consequences that you might suffer. This condition is a very fatal case especially when the airway is already compromised. Based from studies, 90% of the people suffering from allergy are caused by eggs, nuts, milk, soy and other more potential allergens.
There are so many kids with age five years old and below who are more frequently affected by allergy. There are some instances wherein these food allergies can be given with the right solution but there are also some which may persist for longer span of time. The allergic response of a kid may be related to the genes that he has carried from his parents. But then, there are also some instances wherein the allergy was because of the late response of the body’s immune system.
Food Allergy Symptoms
There are large cases wherein the food allergy symptoms are affecting the respiratory system of an individual. There are many people who are suffering from breathing difficulties and can lead to a fatal condition. Once the immunity process of your body will respond to the food allergy, your immune system will promote bronchodilation or the narrowing of the air passage in your respiratory system. The difficulty in breathing is also accompanied by wheezing. This is due to the mucus and liquid accommodation.
Aside from that, people who are suffering from food allergy may also feel some sort of itching. This is also a manifestation which is caused by the response of your immune system. Moreover, people who are suffering from food allergy will also feel mouth swelling. This is because of the accumulation of the fluids in your body. Additional manifestations also include generalized urticaria, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and burning sensation.
Types of Food Allergy
There are total of four types of food allergy. These types differ from each other and it is important for you to know the information concerned. The Type I is the type of food allergy that will lead to anaphylaxis in the next 6o minutes right after the allergen in the food was consumed. In this type of food allergy, the blood vessels will begin to dilate. This is also a very critical condition and requires immediate intervention.
On the other hand, the Type II food allergy is also fatal to a person. However, the reaction is slower as compared to the first type.
The Type III is the food allergy that will develop few hours after eating the allergen. The manifestations involved are the blockage in the small bronchi and skin rashes and redness. Since respiratory system is also affected in this type of food allergy, it also requires immediate medical response.
Lastly, the Type IV food allergy comes with retarded reaction. This usually happens within the 24 to 48 hours after ingesting the food. In this type, the greater number of foods eaten will result to more serious food allergy symptoms.
Tomato allergy, milk allergy, wheat allergy, gluten allergy, peanut allergy and other common food allergies are the prime reasons why these types of food allergies are present.
Food Allergy Testing
There are so many food allergy testing ways that your physician will do just in case you want to undergo with allergy testing. Depending from your health history, your physician will determine the right instrument that will be used. Moreover, food allergy testing procedures may also be comprised with combinations of tools to come up with the right food allergy diagnosis. The procedure will basically begin with physical examination. Right after the physical examination, you will be asked when the first time you observed the food allergy symptoms you have.
During any kind of food allergy testing, your physician might ask you to consume certain food only. And in the next coming days and weeks, your doctor will then bring some foods and incorporate it to your diet plan. The common testing for food allergy is somehow executed in long duration but this is an effective way to discover the foods that causes allergy to you.
The most common food allergy testing method is the scratch test. In this kind of test for food allergy, the allergist will basically use different allergens and test it to the affected individual. The allergens are introduced to the body in order to determine the possibility of hive growth. Aside from that, must modern allergists are using the RAST test. This kind of test is basically used for people who are having psoriasis and eczema. There is also so-called oral food challenge test where your physician will provide you with some specific foods that can cause food allergy. Overall, the main reason of these tests for food allergy is to determine the cause of the problem.
Hope this articles help you,