Food Allergy

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A food allergy is an immunologic response to a food protein. Six to eight percent of children have food allergies and two percent of adults have them. The most common food allergies in adults are shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, fish, and eggs, and the most common food allergies present in children are milk, eggs, and peanuts.
At this time, there is no cure for food allergies. Treatment consists of avoidance diets, where the allergic person avoids any and all forms of the food to which they are allergic. For people who are extremely sensitive, this may involve the total avoidance of any exposure with the allergen, including touching or inhaling the problematic food as well as any surfaces that may have come into contact with it. Food allergy is distinct from food intolerance, which is not caused by an immune reaction.
Persons diagnosed with a food allergy may carry an autoinjector of epinephrine, wear some form of medical alert jewelry, or develop an emergency action plan, in accordance with their doctor.

Symptoms of food allergies include:

• Anaphylaxis: a severe, whole-body allergic reaction that can result in death
• Angioedema: swelling, especially of the eyelids, face, lips, and tongue
• Eczema
• Itching of the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, or any area
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, or abdominal pain
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Wheezing, scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or difficulty swallowing
• Mood swings, depression

Treatment:
The mainstay of treatment for food allergy is avoidance of the foods that have been identified as allergens.
If the food is accidentally ingested and a systemic reaction occurs, then epinephrine (best delivered with an autoinjector of epinephrine such as an Epipen) or Twinject should be used. It is possible that a second dose of epinephrine may be required for severe reactions. The patient should also seek medical care immediately.
At this time, there is no cure for food allergies.There are no allergy desensitization or allergy "shots" available for food allergy.
According to experts at the BA Festival of Science in Norwich, England, vaccines can be created using genetic engineering to cure allergies. If this can be done, food allergies could be eradicated in about ten years.



P.S. : If u want to check a state of food allergy, watch the movie Hitch !