Everything About Allergy

Sea foods are now in high demand as people that are into weight management programs and those with cholesterol problems are avoiding meat products. However, allergic individuals will have to avoid sea foods and sea food products. The good news is that some individuals are allergic to only a certain species of fish, which means they can still eat other sea foods without any allergic reactions.

The three major sea food groups are: mollusca which include snails, mussels, oyster, clams, squid and octopus; anthropoda which include lobsters, crabs, prawns, shrimps, crayfish and lobster; and chordate such as cod, tuna and salmon.

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Milk products that lead to milk allergy include products that contain milk proteins that trigger the reaction. This means allergic patients should avoid the following:
- milk
- yougurt
- butter
- cheese
- cream

Patients should also check product ingredients that contain milk proteins:
- whey
- casein
- caseinate
- natural butter flavor
- lactic acid
- natural or artificial flavors
- sodium caseinate
- sodium lactate

Processed foods also contain milk or by-products of milk, like the following:
- bread
- biscuits
- cookies
- cakes
- soy cheese
- soups
- potato chips
- creams
- margarine

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Milk allergy manifest in the skin, the respiratory system or gastrointestinal tract. It may show as rashes in the skin, or the patient may experience difficulty in breathing and swallowing, vomiting or constipation.

Milk allergy and lactose intolerance are not at all related. Milk allergy occurs as an immune system reaction to milk proteins which does not manifest in non-allergic persons. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, is a hypersensitivity that comes from a lack of lactase, an enzyme that is needed to digest sugar in milk. Usually, lactose intolerance occurs when a person took in too much milk, however, allergic patients show symptoms of allergy even if the amount of milk taken in is minimal.

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Egg allergy usually occur in children, and is eventually outgrown. But a small percentage remain allergic, and avoidance of foods, and even other non-food products, that contain egg is the best option, especially for those who manifest dangerous symptoms. For those whose symptoms are tolerable, like rashes, they are able to take in a little amount of products containing egg.

The current flu vaccines are developed using eggs, and allergic patients may react to the shot. If a patient cannot tolerate the vaccine, the family members should have a flu shot to decrease the person’s probability of having the flu.

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Food allergy may also cause swallowing to be difficult. The eyes, mouth and throat may also get itchy. Gastrointestinal hypersensitivity including diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and nausea may also occur. The most dangerous reaction to food allergen is called anaphylactic shock, which may result to loss of consciousness, low blood pressure or death. Peanuts, milk, seafood and egg are the most common allergens that caused anaphylactic shock.

Presently, there are still no cure for food allergies. Vaccines that contain allergens may cause harm to the patient because it will trigger allergic reactions even if the amount of allergen is very small.

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Molds are also found outdoors – on leaves, trees, piled woods, rocks, drainages, rain gutters, roof and walls. People allergic to molds should avoid mowing the lawn, raking leaves and gardening. Drainages and rain gutters should always be cleaned, remove dry leaves to avoid stagnant water from accumulating. Plant containers, especially if being kept indoors, should always be clean and dry.

Certain jobs expose you to environments where molds thrive like logging, baking, millwork, carpentry, plumbing, gardening, house cleaning, carpet washing and furniture repair. People allergic to molds should take caution, or prepare remedies just in case symptoms start to show.

Molds or fungi grow both indoors and outdoors, and is related to moisture. Molds grow where moisture is, and is not dependent on seasons, unlike pollen which is more concentrated during spring to fall.

Mold spores spread when the molds ripen. It is usually seen in dark, moist, humid rooms like the basement, bathroom, under the kitchen sink, and ceilings if the roof has leaks. It also grows in carpets and walls. Rooms should be well ventilated to allow moisture to evaporate. Carpets, ceilings, walls and floors should always be kept dry, and make sure clothes placed in cabinets are totally dry.

Food allergy is different from food poisoning or food intolerance. It is the immune system’s reaction to certain food proteins. These proteins that trigger an allergic reaction is called food allergen. A person allergic to certain foods are advised to avoid eating these foods, and those who are sensitive to the allergens should also avoid touching the food or anything it has come into contact with, or inhaling the aroma of the food.

Symptoms of food allergy include swelling of the eyelids, face lips and tongue, also called angioedema. This may result to difficulty in breathing if the tongue, larynx and trachea are swollen.

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