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Food allergy, high-risk disease

Food allergy, high-risk disease

Top Doctors
Top Doctors editorial
Top Doctors
Created by: Top Doctors editorial
Edited by: TOP DOCTORS® at 17/03/2019

Food allergy is a disease that can be difficult for their causes, effects and even to diagnose. There are four types of allergic reactions caused by food and, even though in many cases it is curable, in others it may be fatal.

Dr. Juan Manuel Herrera Montiel

A food allergy, or these additives is due to hypersensitivity mechanisms of the immune system so that this system, in an effort to protect you from toxic substances, recognizes some food as bad and inflames your body can cause disease.

The damage can be so devastating that it is better not to eat this food. However, determining the cause, which is essential for the proper control of this disease is something that is sometimes not easy.

causes

An allergy occurs when the immune system tries to protect your body making Immunoglobulin E (IgE). This substance is a protein specific to the food, and can bind to this protein in an area called epitope.

The immunoglobulin E binds to a cell called the mast cell. What happens after this phase we call awareness, is that by eating the same food that you are sensitive again, the mast cell is destroyed by the established signal IgE, releasing into the bloodstream different substances that cause itching all the body, hives, changes in skin color (skin looks red) and inflammation.

Groups susceptible to food allergy

The children of allergic people are more likely to develop an allergy, those living in urban areas, in exaggerated hygiene, which have received more than two courses of antibiotics, which did not receive exclusive womb, their diet is poor.

Symptoms and types of allergic reactions

An allergic reaction may begin within fifteen minutes four hours after ingestion of food. They can affect the entire body and divided them into four sets of organs.

Skin and mucous membranes: They are by far the most common, with skin lesions that give great itching, hives, swelling and edema in different parts of the body.

Digestive: These include pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Respiratory: From nasal itching, clear mucus flow until coughing and difficulty breathing with wheezing (asthma)

Cardiovascular: Feeling dizzy, dizziness and even loss of consciousness (fainting).

Treatment

The allergist is the specialist can find some causal relationship with food. Later the skin allergy test or serum serve to corroborate the suspicions and the final diagnosis includes in some cases a challenge test supervised.

Treatment includes 4 types of plan: Plan of education, Diagnostic Approach, crisis or acute treatment and monitoring.

When someone becomes allergic, it is necessary to educate all caregivers, to prevent food is something very important. Sometimes it is necessary that doctors try to talk to teachers to give some instruction in a crisis.

The diagnostic approach means doing a thorough medical history, symptom diary and dietary recall, and even the fact that he had any further physical activity feed intake. Treatment in crisis or acute condition (urgent) varies depending on the degree of reaction, if symptoms affect two organ systems is called anaphylaxis and treatment of choice is intramuscular adrenaline. Treatment should be started as soon as possible.

The symptoms are much improved by ingesting anti-allergic drugs, but should be evaluated by a doctor once initiated the reaction.

gradual healing

Allergy is curable by proper recognition of the cause, elimination diet food and then gradually reintroduce it can monitor if reaction.

In some cases it is deadly

Unfortunately, severe allergy or anaphylaxis, can be fatal if not treated properly and quickly.