Food Allergies

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8% of adults in the U.S. suffer from environmental allergies and 3.6% from food allergies, that’s roughly thirty-eight thousand Americans. Allergy as defined by Allergies: a General Practice “…refers to the immune system’s hypersensitivity upon re-exposure to a sensitizing agent, an allergen, which results in the release of inflammatory chemicals and development of various symptoms” (Phelps et al. 6). There are factors that have a role in causing environmental and food allergies, as well as internal and external symptoms and health effects of them. Treatment plans have also been created to reduce symptoms and possible cures are being researched.
Genetics increases a persons chances to allergies through DNA inheritance, which increases the risk …show more content…

Some of the triggers of these symptoms include pollen, pets, mold, and dust mites. Food allergy symptoms involve a tingling in the mouth, swelling of the face, hives, painful stomachache, and in more serious case anaphylaxis, which is a life threatening reaction where your immune system releases a flood of chemicals into your body causing you to go into shock (Hall). Symptoms common to both environmental and food allergies are inflammation of the skin, frequent sickness, abnormal behavior, and numbness of limbs and face (Phelps et al. 16). Though the only way to be sure about a proper diagnosis is through prick test where “a drop of concentrated antigen is placed on the skin, usually on the inner forearm, which is then pricked or scratched so that a minute amount of antigen is absorbed. The size of a wheal surrounded by erythema compared with the control indicates a response to a problem substance” (Phelps et al. 16), patch test and blood test, “The patch test is used to diagnose contact allergies. A patch with an antigen on it is applied to the skin and is left in place for 24–48 hours. Lesions, a rash, erythema or hardness of the skin under the patch indicate sensitivity to the test substance…The radioallergosorbent test (RAST) is a blood test in which IgE and IgG antibodies are labelled with a radioactive substance. The amount of …show more content…

A skin infection can be caused by allergies when someone has contact with same substance repeatedly and can become worse if left untreated. Sinus infections occur when airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, and fur enter and affect the respiratory system causing the symptoms of hay fever to occur. Progression will occur if left untreated, causing sinusitis and otitis. If you continue to be exposed to the substance your immune system may weaken and make you susceptible to ear infections or bacterial sinus. Lung infections or aspergillosis is caused by a long exposure period to mold, in which you inhale the spores and they begin to grow in your lungs. Most do not notice that the spores have entered their lungs until there is lung damage, which causes you to cough up blood, trouble breathing, and fever. Is the infection is not to serious the growth can be dealt with medication, but if it has become more severe surgery may be necessary. Allergies left untreated in asthma patients may make them sick more often then not and increase their chance of having a life-threatening asthma attacks, which in the end can cause them to have more allergies left untreated

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