Question 1: (Amani) It is very important for Physicians, researchers, and patients to understand the terminology used to define allergic diseases. Failure to do so can lead to inappropriate advice, prevention and ineffective treatment. The term allergy is commonly refers to reactions or conditions related to an IgE antibody-mediated immunological mechanism following antigenic exposure. Antigen is a material that is capable of initiating an immune reaction when introduced into the human body (J.Genuis , 2010). Regarding food allergy, adverse food reactions (AFRs) can be classified into toxic and hypersensitivity reactions (HRs). When an immunological response has been occurred, hypersensitivity food reaction must be referred to as food allergy, while if the role of IgE is demonstrated, the suitable definition is IgE mediated food allergy. About 20 percent of individuals report an AFR, while food allergy shows lower prevalence: (0.5-3.8 percent in children and 0.1-1 percent in adults). (G.Gasbarrini, 2008). Non-toxic food reactions are classified into immunological (food allergy) and non-immunological (food intolerance); food allergy is subdivided into: IgE mediated: characterized by the presence of IgE specific antibodies and the exact relation between ingestion of food and the symptoms. and non IgE mediated: Demonstrated by antibodies of different isotype from IgE :IgG, IgM, IgA which consists cell-mediated immunity (Fig….). Hypersensitivity or sensitivity are referred to reproducible symptoms or signs initiated by exposure to certain stimulus at a dose tolerated by normal persons (S.G.O. Johansson2004). The primary differences between sensitivity and the allergy are that; an allergy involved the immune system reaction, but s... ... middle of paper ... ...t proteins to form covalent conjugates, so when penicillin is ingested or injected, it forms conjugates with self proteins, and the penicillin modified self peptides provoke a TH2 response in some individuals. These TH2 cells then activates penicillin-binding B cells to produce IgE antibody against the penicillin hapten. Thus, penicillin acts both as the B-cell antigen and, by modifying self peptides, as the T-cell antigen. While when penicillin is injected intravenously into an allergic patient, the penicillin-modified proteins can cross-link IgE molecules on tissue mast cells and circulating basophils and thus causing anaphylaxis (A. Janeway ,2012) 1-Haenuki Y, Matsushita K, Futatsugi-Yumikura S, Ishii KJ, Kawagoe T, Imoto Y,et al. A critical role of IL-33 in experimental allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012;130:184-94.
A food allergy is an exaggerated immune response triggered by a particular protein found in an allergen. Different people have different allergic reactions; ranging from mild to life threatening, whereby an anaphylactic reaction takes place. Symptoms of the allergic diseases may be caused by exposure of the skin to a chemical, of the respiratory system to particles of dust or any other substance, or of the stomach and intestines to a particular food (“What Is Food Allergy?”). In the last few decades, there seems to be an increased media and medical interest on the subject of allergies in general, but mostly on peanut allergies. According to Miranda Waggoner, a Princeton University researcher, no medical research agenda can be found prior to the 1980s. Are peanut allergies really getting more severe and prevalent that the medical community now puts a little more effort into studying the disorder? Or are people just more aware now that word travels faster than ever through the World Wide We...
Stoppler, Melissa C., and William C. Shiel. "Food Allergy." Medicinenet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
True food allergies are rare. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) estimates that only 2% of the adult population of the United States is allergic to foods. Further, only eight foods cause 90% of all food allergic reactions. They are milk, egg, wheat, peanut, soy, tree nuts, fish and shellfish (Food Allergy Network). Many reactions to foods are really intolerance (reaction of the metabolism due to a chemical deficiency) rather than allergy (reaction of the immune system). Many infant allergies, which are later outgrown, are thought to be the result of immature immune systems. However, other allergies become stronger as the person ages and inadvertently becomes more exposed. One report on KCBS radio indicated there may be a link between mothers who ate peanuts during pregnancy and their children’s subsequent allergies.
“Immune Response: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. Web. 18 Dec. 2011. .
You have close relatives with allergy (that is, a mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, or child)
and food intolerances. (Network) Now, because of the increase in the number of people afflicted with food allergies, more and more of these individuals who require special diets are dining out in restaurants which, inevitably, poses many challenges for the chef of the restaurant, the manager, and the service staff. Gordon informs us that, "Food allergies were first documented in the fourth century B.C. by Hippocrates. He noted that milk could cause hives and stomach upset." (Gordon 72) Although food allergies are not a new occurrence, throughout time there has been very little accurate information regarding food allergies and food intolerance. (Gordon 72) What is a known fact, however, is that
Allergies are hypersensitive immune responses to substances that either enter or come in contact with the body. In layman's terms allergies are, a food or natural substance. These include pollen, ragweed, peanuts, shellfish and pet dander are recognized by the immune system as a threat.
All sorts of food allergies affect eight percent of children and two percent of adults in the United States. Allergic reactions happen because one's immune system overreacts to regular foods that are ordinarily harmless to the general population (7). An allergy affecting many children and adults recently in the United States is an allergy to peanuts. In the last few years, tremendous amounts of people have developed this allergy, which seems, in most cases, to be very severe.
This allergic reaction can start within seconds of exposure, and rapidly develop to cause airway constriction, skin and intestinal irritation, and abnormal heart rhythms. An anaphylactic shock is caused by the release of histamine and other chemicals from mast cells. Mast cells are a type of white blood cell and they are found in tissues that regulate exchange with our environment. Mast cells have antibodies called IgE (immunoglobulin type E). IgE are made to detect environmental substances to which the immune system is sensitive. A substance that most people can tolerate, but others have an allergic response, is called an allergen. When IgE antibodies come together with allergens, they cause the mast cells to release histamine and other chemicals, which mix into all of the body's cells. This causes your body's vessels to leak fluid into surrounding tissues, causing the fluid accumulation, redness, and swelling. On smooth muscle cells of the airways and digestive system, they cause constriction. On nerve endings, they cause itching. (Molle, Durham, Kronenberger, & West-Stack, 2004)
In the United States, over three million people are diagnosed with food allergies every year, and over 50 million people have an allergy to some type of food. This number includes one in every 13 children. Most people are born with their allergies; however, allergies can develop at any age, and that is what happened to me. I developed an allergy when I was 14 years old. It was then that some troubling and deleterious side effects started happening to me. When people develop food allergies, their immune systems overreact to normally harmless food proteins. (foodallergy.org). These attacks can affect people in a multitude of ways; they can cause hives, difficulty in breathing, stomach aches, and many more symptoms.
Human race is known to have developed numerous allergies to various known and unknown allergens. An extreme allergic reaction which can be “life-threatening”. (Mydr.com.au, 2014) is referred to as Anaphylaxis.It is a “medical emergency”(Lloyd & Sisman,2013).Statistics indicate that maximum deaths occur due to allergic reactions of various medicines. The other causative agents can be insects, food, latex, hair dye, etc(Lloyd & Sisman,2013). The most common trigger to stimulate anaphylaxis among children are food products such as peanuts, dairy, seafood etc. Exposure to any of these allergens can result in severe anaphylactic attack within 20 minutes.(Australian Resuscitation council, 2012).However the doctors discuss the history of symptoms occurring in children suffering with peanut allergy before declaring them to be anaphylactic and prescribing medication. (Unknown, 2014). Symptoms of anaphylaxis may occur in varied forms depending upon the severty of the reaction. For instance in mild cases swelling of lips, eyes or face occurs along with hives, rash, tingling of mouth and vomitting accompanied with abdominal pain. Nevertheless in extreme conditions the former symptoms may be accompanied with noisy breathing, wheezing, hoarseness and unconsciousness. (Lloyd & Sisman,2013).
Anaphylaxis shock occurs when someone who is sensitive to a substance they are exposed to which results in constricted airway and possible inability to breathe. Parents with children that experience any form of allergic reaction most notify the day care provider so appropriate precautionary steps are taken to maintain a safe health environment for these children. As allergy conditions have slowly increased within our society day care providers have taken more aggressive action to protect these children by extending a “peanut free environment” within the school setting. The percentage of children who experience their first allergic reaction outside the home has increased by 77% over past years daycare providers need to be trained and prepared to handle all types of allergic reaction situations. Steps that a provider and parent should take are as follows: 1. Food allergy action plan, 2. Inform all staff, 3. Post child’s name and allergy,
The study collected data on 50 volunteers who had one of the two chronic allergic
9) Nembrini, C., Sichelstiel, A., Kisielow, J. et al. (2011) Bacterial-induced protection against allergic inflammation through a multicomponent immunoregulatory mechanism. Thorax, 66(9): 755-763
Patients who usually have allergies suffer from many symptoms due to the allergic reaction(s). Normally, your immune system protects you against invading agents such as bacteria and viruses. Otherwise harmless allergens (allergy-producing substances) cause your body to react as if they were dangerous invaders. In effect, your immune system is responding to a false alarm.