Food allergy represents an overreaction of the immune system to a food that it recognizes as dangerous. She has the distinction of being often the first manifestation of allergic disease, and it usually begins before age 6 months.
In most cases, food allergy is expressed in minutes or hours after exposure to the food allergen.
This reaction can occur regardless of the mode of contact with the food:
- Most often, after eating the food.
- After a contact on the skin: for example, a child allergic to peanuts (groundnuts), can develop a reaction after playing a game console, previously used by another member of his family who ate peanuts.
- After inhaled allergen: we can develop an allergic reaction after inhaling fumes from cooking the food allergen.
Demonstrations
- Atopic dermatitis, urticaria, eczema, swelling of lips
Signs of food allergy usually occur very quickly (up to 4 hours after ingestion of the food in question).
- Signs disorders: atopic dermatitis is the main manifestation of food allergy in children This is eczema, the skin is red, sometimes oozing. Urticaria in adults and children, may be another event. Urticairiennes reactions can be very impressive, especially if it is a giant or generalized urticaria, edema or generalized swelling of the throat (angioedema).
- The oral allergy syndrome: This is a tingling of the throat, swollen lips and possibly a hindrance to swallow. It is particularly common among people with an allergic reaction to pollen.
- Respiratory and ocular signs: Symptoms affecting the nose (allergic rhinitis) and eyes (allergic conjunctivitis) are both manifestations of food allergy, and sometimes warning signs of a severeallergic reaction. The asthma attack reached the lung airways, manifested by wheezing with breathing, coughing, and difficulty breathing sometimes major.
- Digestive Signs: The most classic GI symptoms of food allergies are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
- Anaphylaxis: This is the most serious clinical manifestation that requires immediate medical treatment. It often begins with malaise, followed by an itchy rash and difficulty breathing. Sometimes a loss of consciousness associated with a voltage drop is observed. In extreme cases, it can result in cardiac arrest.
The path of the allergen, the dose of allergen consumed and the frequency of exposure to the allergen will influence the type and severity of the allergic reaction.