| Among the allergies rampant in American lives today, | | | | What makes a food allergy more life threatening is |
| food allergy is one of the top three. However, some | | | | because of the immediate threat to the person. |
| people misdiagnose food allergy as food intolerance. | | | | Someone with food allergy can have an anaphylactic |
| There are certain similarities but one must be careful in | | | | shock and start to experience the swelling of the |
| administering medicines to a person with an allergy. | | | | throat muscles. This can block the air passage of the |
| The wrong medicine for the wrong condition can | | | | person and could result to death. |
| increase the allergic symptom resulting in anaphylaxis | | | | Another real danger is the sharp drop in the blood |
| and even death. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic | | | | pressure of the patient. In this case, the person with |
| reaction where all the symptoms swiftly attack the | | | | food allergy may experience mental confusion and |
| entire body all at the same time. | | | | dizziness. |
| Symptoms Of Food Allergy | | | | Food Allergy Treatment |
| Food allergy is an allergic reaction to certain types of | | | | A food allergy can be treated as soon as the |
| food. The most common food allergens are: cow's | | | | symptom occurs. For rashes, there are skin creams |
| milk, wheat, peanuts and other tree nuts, eggs, fish, | | | | available to ease the swelling and itchiness. The |
| soybeans, shellfish, meat and certain types of drugs. | | | | antihistamines will give relief to symptoms of runny |
| The allergic reaction can vary depending on the type | | | | nose, watery eyes and swelling. These medicines can |
| of allergen but they have the same number of | | | | be bought right in the local drugstores and does not |
| symptoms: | | | | require a prescription. |
| - Rashes or hives begins to appear on the skin. In | | | | For those who experience the severe food allergy |
| extreme cases, the swelling and hives can spread to | | | | reactions, a dose of epinephrine (adrenaline), either self- |
| the entire body. | | | | injected or given by the doctor can immediately |
| - Swelling of the certain areas near the mouth. | | | | reverse the symptoms. As of now, a shot of |
| - Swelling of the ear | | | | epinephrine is the most effective treatment for food |
| - Redness and itchiness of the eyes. | | | | allergy and other types of allergies. |
| - Runny nose | | | | Preventing Food Allergy |
| - Vomiting and diarrhea | | | | Although food allergies cannot be prevented, the best |
| - Difficulty in breathing and wheezing, sometime signs | | | | way to defeat it is by staying away from the food a |
| of asthma | | | | person is allergic to. Taking a risk will only cost you |
| Food intolerance has much of the same symptoms | | | | more pain in the future. So it is best to see the doctor |
| except the runny nose and watery eyes. Most often, | | | | to get a proper diagnosis and guidelines on what to |
| food intolerance results in diarrhea and swelling of | | | | eat and what not to eat. |
| certain areas of the body. | | | | Making the right diagnosis on food allergy versus food |
| Aside for the similarities in symptoms, a food allergy is | | | | intolerance can be tricky. It all depends on how severe |
| more severe than food intolerance. Someone with | | | | the allergic reactions are and the number of symptoms |
| food intolerance can eat small portions of the food he | | | | that show up on the person when exposed to the |
| is allergic to. They can still enjoy the food, though in | | | | food allergen. |
| small quantities. But to a person with food allergy, that | | | | Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as |
| small portion can immediately trigger an allergic | | | | the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this |
| reaction. And if not treated at once, the patients can | | | | article is included and and all links must be Active |
| go into anaphylaxis. | | | | Linkable with no syntax changes. |