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Food AllergyFood Allergy

Dr. Martin SiuDr. Martin Siu

www.OmaniClinic.comwww.OmaniClinic.com

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Food Allergies Among Children Food Allergies Among Children Dramatically on the RiseDramatically on the Rise

Childhood food allergies are Childhood food allergies are apparently much more common in apparently much more common in America than previously believed.America than previously believed.

A clinical study, recently published in A clinical study, recently published in the journal Pediatrics, found that the journal Pediatrics, found that about eight percent of children under about eight percent of children under the age of 18, almost 6 million, suffer the age of 18, almost 6 million, suffer from one or more food allergies.from one or more food allergies.

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Centre for Disease ControlCentre for Disease Control

The numbers are twice as high as the latest The numbers are twice as high as the latest data released by the Centers for Disease data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2007, which Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2007, which showed a rate of just under four percent, or showed a rate of just under four percent, or about three million kids.about three million kids.

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Online InterviewOnline Interview

The new findings came from online interviews that The new findings came from online interviews that included 40,000 households all over the United included 40,000 households all over the United States.States.

Participants were recruited through random telephone Participants were recruited through random telephone calls.calls.

Based on the information gathered from the survey, Based on the information gathered from the survey, experts now believe that allergies among the young, experts now believe that allergies among the young, including food allergies, are dramatically on the rise.including food allergies, are dramatically on the rise.

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More ProblemsMore Problems

What’s more, nearly two out of every five What’s more, nearly two out of every five affected children suffer from a severe food affected children suffer from a severe food allergy.allergy.

For these children, accidental ingestion of an For these children, accidental ingestion of an allergenic food may lead to difficulty allergenic food may lead to difficulty breathing, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and breathing, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and even death.even death.

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8 Types of Food with Problems8 Types of Food with Problems

The CDC estimates that eight types of foods The CDC estimates that eight types of foods are responsible for 90 percent of all food are responsible for 90 percent of all food allergies in children.allergies in children.

They are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, They are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.shellfish, soy and wheat.

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What’s Allergy ?What’s Allergy ?

Allergy is a condition that occurs when a Allergy is a condition that occurs when a person’s immune system is hypersensitive person’s immune system is hypersensitive or over-reactive.or over-reactive.

Ordinarily, the human immune system has Ordinarily, the human immune system has the ability to distinguish between harmless the ability to distinguish between harmless substances in the environment and substances in the environment and potentially harmful agents, such as viruses potentially harmful agents, such as viruses and bacteria.and bacteria.

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Immune ResponseImmune Response

For a person with allergies, however, the immune For a person with allergies, however, the immune system reacts swiftly and with great intensity to system reacts swiftly and with great intensity to substances that are not dangerous as if they were.substances that are not dangerous as if they were.

So, when an individual who has certain allergies eats, So, when an individual who has certain allergies eats, touches or inhales an allergen (a foreign substance he touches or inhales an allergen (a foreign substance he or she is allergic to), the immune system mistakenly or she is allergic to), the immune system mistakenly responds with an all-out counterattack.responds with an all-out counterattack.

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Causes of AllergyCauses of Allergy

Many experts believe that the tendency to Many experts believe that the tendency to develop allergies is primarily hereditary.develop allergies is primarily hereditary.

However, in addition to genetic traits, long-However, in addition to genetic traits, long-term exposure to certain health hazards in the term exposure to certain health hazards in the environment, such as tobacco smoke, environment, such as tobacco smoke, pesticides and other pollutants, can provoke pesticides and other pollutants, can provoke allergic reactions.allergic reactions.

So can emotional factors and other stressors.So can emotional factors and other stressors.

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Food Intolerances and Allergy-Food Intolerances and Allergy-11

People who suffer from food intolerances are not People who suffer from food intolerances are not necessarily allergic to these foods.necessarily allergic to these foods.

The symptoms can be similar, but with intolerance The symptoms can be similar, but with intolerance the physical reactions are usually due to problems the physical reactions are usually due to problems with digestion.with digestion.

For instance, people with lactose intolerance are For instance, people with lactose intolerance are unable to produce enough of a digestive enzyme unable to produce enough of a digestive enzyme needed to break down milk sugar.needed to break down milk sugar.

They are lactose intolerant, but the immune system is They are lactose intolerant, but the immune system is not involved in the resulting digestive distress.not involved in the resulting digestive distress.

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Food Intolerances and Allergy-Food Intolerances and Allergy-22

There can be conditions, however, where food There can be conditions, however, where food intolerances and allergies sort of overlap.intolerances and allergies sort of overlap.

Celiac disease, for example, generates an abnormal Celiac disease, for example, generates an abnormal immune response to foods containing gluten, like immune response to foods containing gluten, like wheat and some grain products.wheat and some grain products.

Despite of this, celiac disease is classified as a food Despite of this, celiac disease is classified as a food intolerance, although it is triggered by autoimmune intolerance, although it is triggered by autoimmune activity.activity.

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Symptom DifferentiationSymptom Differentiation

Another difference between food intolerances Another difference between food intolerances and allergies is that the symptoms of and allergies is that the symptoms of intolerances generally intensify with age, intolerances generally intensify with age, while those of allergies get worse with while those of allergies get worse with exposure.exposure.

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Possible Reactions of AllergyPossible Reactions of Allergy

Allergies should not be taken lightly, especially when Allergies should not be taken lightly, especially when children are affected.children are affected.

Possible reactions range from mild to severe.Possible reactions range from mild to severe. They include swelling of lips and face, hives, itching, They include swelling of lips and face, hives, itching,

flushing or eczema flare.flushing or eczema flare. The severest cases, known as anaphylaxis, are The severest cases, known as anaphylaxis, are

potentially life-threatening.potentially life-threatening. Symptoms include wheezing, trouble breathing, Symptoms include wheezing, trouble breathing,

vomiting, persistent coughing and dangerous swelling vomiting, persistent coughing and dangerous swelling of the airways.of the airways.

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Multiple Food AllergiesMultiple Food Allergies

Especially for kids with multiple food Especially for kids with multiple food allergies, it complicates their lives and makes allergies, it complicates their lives and makes it really tough on these kids to avoid multiple it really tough on these kids to avoid multiple foods to stay healthy and stay alive.foods to stay healthy and stay alive.

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The Most Effective MeasureThe Most Effective Measure

Parents of children with serious food allergies are Parents of children with serious food allergies are urged to always carry antihistamine as well as an urged to always carry antihistamine as well as an epinephrine shot (EpiPen) with them.epinephrine shot (EpiPen) with them.

The most effective measure people can take against The most effective measure people can take against allergic reactions is avoidance.allergic reactions is avoidance.

That means paying close attention to ingredient That means paying close attention to ingredient labels, taking precautions when eating at restaurants labels, taking precautions when eating at restaurants and bringing along one’s own food if safe alternatives and bringing along one’s own food if safe alternatives are unavailable.are unavailable.

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SummarySummary

Many children outgrow their allergies or tolerate Many children outgrow their allergies or tolerate them better as they grow older, including those them better as they grow older, including those against milk, eggs and wheat, while peanuts, tree against milk, eggs and wheat, while peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish often remain a lifetime threat.nuts and shellfish often remain a lifetime threat.

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