A food allergy is an abnormal reaction that is triggered when the immune system determines a certain food or substance may be harmful to the body and therefore tries to eliminate it. There are eight major foods, including peanuts, which cause 90% of food allergies.
Peanuts can cause hazardous reactions if you're allergic to them. When your body recognizes a strange substance, it produces several chemical compounds that affect your skin, lungs, digestive system, eyes, and other systems in your body.
The symptoms of allergic reactions may vary: stomach ache, skin rash, nasal congestion, and diarrhea. However, there are more serious symptoms, such as anaphylaxis, a condition in which your respiratory tract becomes obstructed, hindering the passage of air and causing a deadly situation if not treated promptly. Other symptoms of anaphylaxis are:
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat.
- Low blood pressure.
- Loss of consciousness.
The usual treatment for allergies is an antihistamine drug to relieve symptoms (nasal congestion, skin rash, etc.) and reduce the reaction. However, if you have a more severe condition, you might need an epinephrine injection, a drug that acts quickly on your body to counteract the allergic reaction. After getting this injection, you should immediately go to a hospital, because the symptoms may reappear after a while.
Here are some precautions you should take if you're allergic to peanuts:
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- Stay away from foods that contain peanuts, such as certain chocolate bars.
- Avoid foods that are derived from peanuts, such as peanut oil.
- Make sure to read food labels.All food products must specify if they contain allergenic ingredients.
- Learn how to recognize the early symptoms of an allergic reaction.
- If you're allergic to peanuts, make sure to know what to do in case of an unexpected reaction.
- Always keep an antihistamine(cream, medicine, eye drops) handy or the epinephrine injections prescribed by your doctor, in case of an allergic reaction.
- Consult your doctor.
Source:
WebMD (2007). Peanut Allergy – Overview. Retrieved on December, 2008 from http://www.webmd.com/allergies/tc/peanut-allergy-overview
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Department Health and Human Services (2007). Food Allergies, What You Need to Know. Retrieved on January, 2009 from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ffalrgn.html
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