Food allergies disease

Food allergies are a disorder in the immune system. This condition is characterized by the excessive reaction of the immune system to substances contained in a type of food.

Food allergies can occur in infants, children, or adults. An estimated 5 out of 100 people experienced this type of allergy. People are experiencing this disease for a lifetime. But not infrequently the food allergies will disappear in adulthood.

Food allergy Causes

The immune system consists of many components. One of them is immunoglobulin E (IgE). In people with allergic complaints, including food allergies, IgE provides an excessive reaction to certain dietary substances.

IgE will react by removing the histamine substance, which will dilute the blood vessels, triggering the production of substances causing inflammatory reactions, disrupting bowel movements, as well as causing swelling in the airway.

The cause of IgE to react excessively is not known clearly. But people who have asthma, have an allergic family history or are born through the operation of Caesar more susceptible to experiencing this disease.

Food allergies Diagnosis

At the initial examination to determine food allergies, the doctor will conduct a complete and thorough interview on the symptoms that arise, food that has recently been consumed, and the amount of food consumed. Also, there will be a physical examination to determine the range of allergic symptoms.

To ensure the diagnosis of food allergies, several tests can be done, namely:

Specific IgE examination through blood screening.
Elimination of food, namely by avoiding a type of food that is suspected to cause allergies. Elimination of food usually needs to be done for 2 – 4 weeks. When symptoms improve after elimination, a person certainly has an allergic substance.
Another test is with a food challenge test. This examination is performed by exposing the patient to foods that are suspected to trigger allergies. The doctor will observe the symptoms that arise afterward. This examination is the last option done when another test result does not give a clear conclusion.

Food allergies Symptoms

The symptoms of food allergies can vary from mild to severe and may involve the gastrointestinal tract, skin, and respiratory tract. Symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract can be nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain such as cramps, diarrhea, or bleeding bowel movements.

Symptoms of the respiratory tract can be prolonged coughs when continuously exposed to allergic trigger substances. In addition to coughs, other symptoms of the airways may be colds, runny nose, shortness of breath, and swelling of the airway. Symptoms of, the skin feels hot and looks flushed, the flavor of Baal or numbness in the skin, and spots in the skin

There may also be severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis, a severe and life-threatening allergic symptom. Characterized by decreased consciousness or fainting, heavy shortness of breath, blood pressure drops drastically, swelling of the lips or airway, blue lips, and pale skin.

Food allergies can be caused by any type of food. But the most commonly encountered is an allergic reaction caused by eggs (especially egg whites), milk, beans, fish, clams, and gluten. Generally, these symptoms appear about two hours after consuming food that triggers allergies.

Food allergies Treatment

The primary treatment of food allergies is to avoid consuming foods that can trigger allergic symptoms. If you accidentally consume food and have allergic symptoms, it can be given medication that contains antihistamines or corticosteroids.

If a severe or anaphylactic symptom occurs, then the main treatment is with an adrenaline injection that should be administered as soon as possible to save allergy sufferers ' lives.