Most people think that a food allergy causes just a skin rash or an upset stomach, but for many, food allergies can be deadly. While most people know that bee stings can cause anaphylactic shock and even death, they’re much less deadly than food; bee stings cause about 40 deaths per year, compared to 100 for food allergies.
When Food Becomes Deadly
The serious nature of food allergies is often downplayed; deadly allergies were very rare just a couple of generations ago. However, today, one in 13 kids has a food allergy, and they’re becoming more common. From 1997-2007, the incidence of food allergies rose by 18% among children, and many people see an Allergist in Elizabethtown KY Most allergies are to common foods, such as peanuts, shellfish, eggs and milk.
Identifying the Symptoms of a Food Allergy
In many cases, food allergies manifest themselves the first time a child eats food. In other cases, children can suddenly develop allergies to foods they’ve eaten numerous times. When a child is allergic to food, his or her immune system confuses it with something dangerous and produces antibodies to try and neutralize it. As histamines are released into the bloodstream, the child experiences symptoms such as hives, itching, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea every time the food is eaten.
Why Are Food Allergies Becoming So Common?
There’s no concrete answer as to why people have food allergies, but environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a role. Some believe that low vitamin D levels are a factor, as are GMOs, food additives, herbicides, and hormones. Moreover, children are born and grow up with low levels of beneficial bacteria in their intestines, which is attributable to poor diet and the overuse of antibiotics. Patients can Visit Accredited Asthma Allergy And Food Intolerance Center for individualized care.
Treatments For Food Allergies
There are dietary approaches to the treatment of food allergies, such as the GAPS diet, which heals and then seals the intestines and encourages the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria. There’s another option called PN (provocation neutralization) treatment, which offers an 80-90% success rate. In PN, a tiny amount of an allergen is injected just under the skin.
To prevent deadly reactions, avoidance is key. Simple hand washing, label reading, and visits to an Allergist in Elizabethtown KY can keep allergic patients safe, and such practices can benefit the rest of the family as well.
