Allergies - Food Allergies and Intolerances
Information Available
What is an allergy?
Are allergies easy to detect?
How do I treat an allergy?
Food allergies and intolerances in Babies
Medical Treatment for Allergies?
Anaphalactic Shock?
What is an allergy?
The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances, such as bacteria and viruses. It also reacts to foreign substances called allergens, which are generally harmless and in most people do not cause a problem.
But in a person with allergies, the immune response is oversensitive. When it recognizes an allergen, it releases chemicals such as histamines. which fight off the allergen. This causes itching, swelling, mucus production, muscle spasms, hives, rashes, and other symptoms, which vary from person to person.
Allergies are broadly categorised as:
Dietary - eating a food which your body is intolerant of or sensitive to - such as wheat and dairy products.
Inhaled - when the allergen is present in the air you breathe - such as pollen and perfume.
Contact - when your skin is sensitive to a substance which touches it, such as soap or jewelry.
Of more concern is the severity of the reaction. Allergic reactions can be life threatening by causing Anaphalactic Shock, or cover a range from debilitating to annoying.
Allergens that are breathed in often cause a stuffy nose, itchy nose and throat, mucus production, cough, or wheezing.
Allergens that touch the eyes may cause itchy, watery, red, swollen eyes.
Eating something you are allergic to can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, or a severe, life-threatening reaction.
Allergens that touch the skin can cause a skin rash, hives, itching, blisters, or even skin peeling.
Drug allergies usually involve the whole body and can lead to a variety of symptoms.
The tendency to be allergic is often inherited. If both your parents have allergies, you are likely to have allergies. The chance is greater if your mother has allergies.
Although allergic tendencies seem be inherited family members may differ widely in the kinds of things they are allergic to. One child may have asthma, while another is prone to hay fever.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of your baby's life helps decrease the incidence of allergies in the early years of life.
Are allergies easy to detect?
Not always, and especially not in babies. For instance, many babies develop a wheeze when they get an upper respiratory tract infection. It isn't usually the sign of an allergy, and most babies outgrow the tendency to wheeze when they have a cold as they mature. If the wheeze often occurs in the absence of a cold, and it's still there at age three, your GP may ask you to keep a diary of when your child develops symptoms. Asthma is usually diagnosed through the child's history and response to bronchodilators.
Common allergies, such as asthma, eczema and hay fever, can usually be readily diagnosed although discovering the exact cause may be more difficult. However, a person can develop an allergy to almost anything - from cat fur to polyester. When there are symptoms but no easily discernible cause, you may want to consult your Health Professional about testing.
Allergies can result in a wide range of symptoms, from hives to hay fever. Food allergies can be linked to many common health complaints including:
Migraine - common triggers include dairy products, wheat, chocolate, eggs and oranges.
Arthritis - many sufferers are sensitive to foods from the nightshade family, including potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, capsicum and chilli; avoidance of these foods may improve symptoms in some people.
Digestive complaints such as flatulence, diarrhoea, constipation or bloating can occur, as well as the fungal infection Candida (also known as thrush).
Skin conditions such as dermatitis.
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome: bowel conditions which cause symptoms such as diarrhoea and cramping pain, commonly related to stress and allergies.
Children can suffer with food allergies from a very young age - conditions such as colic, conjunctivitis, ADD and recurrent ear infections are commonly caused or worsened by underlying food intolerance.
Tests
1. Elimination and Challenge Test
One of the most reliable ways of pinpointing food allergens is by keeping a food and symptom diary. Make sure you write down everything you eat over a period of several weeks, as well as the symptoms you experience. Over time, you may be able to see a pattern developing and come to understand whether your symptoms are triggered or aggravated by eating certain foods. Bear in mind that some symptoms may take up to 48 hours to develop after the allergen has been eaten.
In some cases, your Health Professional may tell you to avoid certain items (common allergens or items you suspect from keeping your diary) to see if you get better, or to use suspected items to see if you feel worse. This is called "use or elimination testing." This is often used to check for food or medication allergies.
2. Electrodermal Screening Test
For a more detailed analysis we recommend Electrodermal Screening used in our Food Sensitivity Testing for detecting a range of ingested or inhaled allergy triggers. It is specific, accurate, and safe.
3. Cytotoxic Allergy Test
Another useful form of testing is Cytotoxic allergy testing.
4. Skin Prick Testing
Skin testing is the most common method of allergy testing. One type of skin testing is the prick test. It involves placing a small amount of the suspected allergy-causing substances on the skin, and then slightly pricking the area so the substance moves under the skin. The skin is closely watched for signs of a reaction, which include swelling and redness. Skin testing may be an option for some young children and infants.
Other types of skin tests include patch testing and intradermal testing. For detailed information, see:Allergy testing
5. Blood Testing
Blood tests can measure the levels of specific allergy-related substances, especially one called immunoglobulin E (IgE).
A complete blood count (CBC), specifically the eosinophil white blood cell count, may also help reveal allergies.
Allergy symptoms can occur at any time of the year.
Mould allergies usually develop in the winter and can be hard to distinguish from colds.
Pollen-related allergies are more common in spring and autumn. Morning congestion which lasts all year long is commonly due to dust-mites or pet allergies.
Pollutant or Chemical-realated allergies usually occur after exposure to the relevant substance.
Allergies are not always for life. In some cases, you will outgrow your allergy, or in the case of an inhaled allergy it might disappear when you move to a new area. Often people respond well to a course of treatment and their allergic response is reduced or eliminated.
In other cases, the allergy worsens with maturity. Sometimes, you may develop a new or different allergy later.
How do I treat an allergy?
The best way to reduce symptoms is to try and avoid what causes your allergies in the first place. This is especially important for food and drug allergies.
Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) require treatment with a medicine called epinephrine, which can be life saving when immediately given.
For a general Medical approach to the treatment of allergies see below.
Natural medicine favours dealing with the cause i.e. 'why is the body sensitised to that allergen', rather than treating the symptoms, and may involve a process of treating the body to improve the health of the liver, lungs, digestive system and skin as well as the immune system. Allergies are often a sign that the body is struggling to regulate its internal chemistry and maintain homeostasis.
Natural treatment usually involves the following steps: identifying your allergens, eliminating them for a time, detoxifying the body, desensitising your body to them, and promoting and allowing time for healing.
Naturopathic treatment often starts with the elimination of commonly allergic foods such as chocolate, milk, cheese, eggs, wheat, gluten (a protein found in wheat and other grains), artificial flavourings and colourings, and peanut butter from your diet.
While the simplest way to eliminate the problem is to attempt to remove the cause, cleaning up the internal chemistry and reprogramming triggers within the body are also necessary. However reducing your exposure to potential allergens such as tobacco smoke, down and feather pillows, perfume, pet hairs, dust mites, and wool blankets will usually help. Your child's stuffed toy collection, which is a real magnet for dust mites, should be washed frequently.
If you are allergic to airborne pollen, keep indoors whenever possible during heavy-pollen periods and on windy days, bathe frequently, and avoid opening the windows on windy days. If eczema is a problem, ask your Naturopath if s/he would recommend prescribing an appropriate moisturising cream.
Pets which cause an allergic reaction should be kept outside, or at least restricted to a certain area of the house. Difficult as it is to contemplate, you may have to consider finding your pet another home.
As an allergy sufferer it is often worthwhile to keep your room as dust-free as possible. Clean frequently to keep dust to a minimum, though it's not really the dust itself that's the problem but dust mites. Relatives of spiders, dust mites are microscopic organisms that thrive on human skin flakes and produce allergens. While it is impossible to keep all dust at bay, and one effective measure is to open the windows frequently, there are other strategies you may like to try to keep dust mites at bay. These include: Pull up the carpets and cover hardwood floors with rugs. Wash all bedding in hot water. Use a damp mop rather than a vacuum cleaner, since many vacuum cleaners kick up the dust. You can also buy vacuum cleaners with a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter to trap dust mites and other allergens.
Food allergies and intolerances in Babies
Babies sometimes develop allergies to foods, such as wheat, eggs, milk, soya products, nuts, shellfish, fish and citrus fruit. The symptoms of a true food allergy, such as a rash or wheezing, or swelling of the lips and tongue, generally appear within an hour of eating. If you suspect your baby may be allergic to a certain food, talk to your GP who may refer her for tests. Alternatively testing using Electrodermal Screening is non-invasive and can provide useful information for management and treatment.
Babies can also develop intolerances to some foods, which is different to a true allergy. Symptoms of a food intolerance are more likely to affect the digestive system and can include tummy pain, colic, bloating, wind, diarrhoea, and sometimes vomiting.
If you suspect your child may have a food intolerance, see your GP, or Naturopath who may put your child on an exclusion diet, where suspect foods are removed from the diet then slowly reintroduced. This helps to identify which foods are causing the problem. Again testing using Electrodermal Screening is useful to identify triigers.
If your baby is formula fed and is found to have an intolerance or allergy to cow's milk, the Naturopath may suggest your baby switches to soya formula or a cow's milk-based formula which has been specially modified for babies with an allergy or intolerance.
You may also want to check with your doctor if new symptoms develop or if they persist. If your baby has trouble breathing, pants, appears disoriented, has a rapid pulse or is pale or cold, call your GP immediately.
Prevention
Breast-feeding children for at least 4 months or more may help prevent atopic dermatitis cow milk allergy, and wheezing in early childhood.
However, changing a mother's diet during pregnancy or while breast-feeding does not seem to help prevent allergy-related conditions but may help to manage the baby's symptoms.
For most children, changing diet or special formulas does not seem to prevent these problems. If there is a family history of eczema and allergies in a parent, brother, or sister, discuss the infant feeding with your Naturopath or your GP. The timing of introduction of solid foods in general, as well as use of several specific foods, can help prevent some allergies. However treatments which can improve the health of the gut and immune system have been found to reduce the development of food intolerances. Your Naturopath can help you with this.
There is also evidence that infants exposed to certain airborne allergens (such as dust mites and cat dander) may be less likely to develop related allergies. This is called the "hygiene hypothesis" and sprang from observations that infants on farms tend to have fewer allergies than those who grow up in environments that are more sterile.
Once allergies have developed, treating the allergies and carefully avoiding those things that cause reactions can prevent allergies in the future.
Medical Treatments for Allergies.
refer to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000812.htm
There are several types of medications available to prevent and treat allergies. Which medicine your doctor recommends depends on the type and severity of your symptoms, your age, and overall health.
Specific illnesses that are caused by allergies (such as asthma, hay fever, and eczema) may require other treatments.
Medications that can be used to treat allergies include:
ANTIHISTAMINES
Antihistamines are available over-the-counter and by prescription. They are available in many forms, including:
Capsules and pills
Eye drops
Injection
Liquid
Nasal spray
CORTICOSTEROIDS
Anti-inflammatory medications (corticosteroids) are available in many forms, including:
Creams and ointment for the skin
Eye drops
Nasal spray
Lung inhaler
Patients with severe allergic symptoms may be prescribed corticosteroid pills or injections for short periods of time.
DECONGESTANTS
Decongestants can help relieve a stuffy nose. Decongestant nasal spray should not be used for more than several days, because they can cause a "rebound" effect and make the congestion worse. Decongestants in pill form do not cause this problem.
OTHER MEDICINES
Leukotriene inhibitors are medicines that specifically block the substances that trigger allergies. Zafirlukast (Accolate) and montelukast (Singulair) are approved for those with asthma and indoor and outdoor allergies.
ALLERGY SHOTS
Allergy shots (immunotherapy) are occasionally recommended if the allergen cannot be avoided and symptoms are hard to control. Allergy shots keep your body from over-reacting to the allergen. Regular injections of the allergen are given, with each dose slightly larger than the previous dose until a maximum dose is reached. They do not work for everybody and require frequent doctor's visits.
What is Anaphalaxis?
The following excerpt is taken from http://www.medicinenet.com/anaphylaxis/article.htm
Introduction to anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis refers to a rapidly developing and serious allergic reaction that affects a number of different areas of the body at one time. Severe anaphylactic reactions can be fatal. Most people experience allergy symptoms only as a minor annoyance. However, a small number of people are susceptible to a reaction that can lead to shock or even death.
Anaphylaxis is often triggered by substances that are injected or ingested and thereby gain access into the blood stream. An explosive reaction involving the skin, lungs, nose, throat, and gastrointestinal tract can then result. Although severe cases of anaphylaxis can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure and be fatal if untreated, many reactions are milder and can be ended with prompt medical therapy.
What does anaphylaxis mean?
To fully understand this term, we need to go back almost 100 years. The story begins on a cruise aboard Prince Albert I of Monaco's yacht. The Prince had invited two Parisian scientists to perform studies on the toxin produced by the tentacles of a local jellyfish, the Portuguese Man of War. Charles Richet and Paul Portier were able to isolate the toxin and tried to vaccinate dogs in the hope of obtaining protection, or "prophylaxis," against the toxin. They were horrified to find that subsequent very small doses of the toxin unexpectedly resulted in a new dramatic illness that involved the rapid onset of breathing difficulty and resulted in death within 30 minutes. Richet and Portier termed this "anaphylaxis" or "against protection." They rightly concluded that the immune system first becomes sensitized to the allergen over several weeks and upon re-exposure to the same allergen may result in a severe reaction. An allergen is a substance that is foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people.
Allergy Facts
The first documented case of presumed anaphylaxis occurred in 2641 B.C. when Menes, an Egyptian pharaoh, died mysteriously following a wasp or hornet sting. Later, in Babylonian times, there are two distinct references to deaths due to wasp stings.
Charles Richet was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1913 for his work on anaphylaxis.
Richet went on to suggest that the allergen must result in the production of a substance, which then sensitized the dogs to react in such a way upon re-exposure. This substance turned out to be IgE.
In the first part of the 20th century, anaphylactic reactions were most commonly caused by tetanus diphtheria vaccinations made from horse serum. Today, human serum is used for tetanus prevention, and the most common causes of anaphylaxis are now penicillin and other antibiotics, insect stings, and certain foods.
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The following excerpt is taken from http://www.medicinenet.com/anaphylaxis/article.htm
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