Lakewood, NJ -- You could get very sick, or even
die from the food that you eat, and these problems are more
common than you think.
Food allergies cause 30,000 trips to the emergency room
and between 150 to 200 deaths each year. Of the approximately
11 million Americans who suffer from food allergies, 3 million
of them are children under the age of 18.
May 10-16 is Food Allergy Awareness Week, designated to
alert the public about the dangers of food allergies.
“A food allergy is an immune system response to a
food that the body mistakenly believes is harmful. Once the
immune system decides that a particular food is harmful,
it creates specific antibodies to it,” says Cathy Heintz,
RD, CDE, Chief Clinical Dietitian at Kimball Medical Center. The
next time that same food is eaten, the immune system releases
massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine, in order
to protect the body. These chemicals trigger a cascade of
allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system,
gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system.
“Depending on the allergen and the situation, there
can be a very severe reaction with sudden wheezes, coughs,
rashes and, or hives,” says Heintz. “In the most
severe cases, patients can die.”
The most common food allergies are milk, eggs, seafood and
peanuts, followed by tree
nuts (walnut, cashew, etc.), fish, shellfish, soy and
wheat. Unfortunately,
the only real way to find out if you have a food allergy
is when you have a reaction.
Symptoms range from a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling
of the tongue and the throat, difficulty breathing, hives,
vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure,
loss of consciousness, to death. Symptoms occur within
minutes to two hours after contact with the allergy-causing
substance, but in rare instances may occur up to four hours
later.
Allergic reactions to foods can vary dramatically. "They
can range from just a mild rash to very severe swelling in
the throat and the airways in the lungs so that there is
a complete inability to breathe," says Heintz.
A more severe reaction to a food allergy is anaphylaxis,
a sudden, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction that
can be mild to life-threatening. Anaphylaxis is responsible
for an estimated 2,000 hospitalizations each year.
People with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are at greater
relative risk of experiencing anaphylaxis, and those who
are allergic to foods and have asthma are believed to be
at a higher risk for developing an anaphylactic reaction.
“Strict avoidance of the allergen is the only way
to avoid a severe reaction. Read food labels for every food
each time you eat it. Ask questions about ingredients and
preparation methods when eating away from home,” says
Heintz.
If symptoms are severe, or resemble anaphylaxis, emergency
medical help should be sought immediately.
The best treatment for food allergies is Epinephrine, also
called adrenaline, the medication of choice for controlling
a severe reaction. It is available by prescription as an
EpiPen® auto injector and should be carried at all times
if you have a food allergy.
A recent study of fatal food allergy-induced anaphylaxis
showed that adolescents who have peanut and tree nut allergy
and asthma and do not have quick access to epinephrine, EpiPen®,
during a reaction, are at highest risk for a fatal reaction.
Parents should check with their child’s pediatrician
if they suspect a food allergy. Tests are available
to determine if an allergy exists. Patients should wear a
MedicAlert® bracelet or necklace noting the allergy.
Children typically outgrow their allergies to milk, egg,
soy and wheat, while allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish
and shrimp usually are not outgrown.
The Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition has made it a high priority to boost
consumer and food industry awareness of food allergens. The
FDA is conducting food allergen education programs for consumers
and the industry, and is developing a strategy for clear,
easy-to-understand labeling of food allergens.
To schedule an appointment with an allergist on staff at
Kimball Medical Center, call the Barnabas Health Care Link at 1.888.724.7123.
Date: May 12, 2009
CONTACT: Carrie Cristello
Director, Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@barnabashealth.org
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