What Causes Food Allergies in Adults and Children

By Kate Richards


The immune system in the body sometimes reacts abnormally to perceived foreign substances even if they are not harmful; the reactions may be mild or even serious. Children have a tendency to suffer from allergies arising from immune reactions to eggs and milk. In the same way, adults also experience allergic reactions from foods such as vegetables and fruits. Moreover, certain foods like peanuts cause allergy to both adults and children.

These reactions in body cause different symptoms that may range from itchy sensations in ears, throat, and mouth, raised red skin that is itchy (nettle rash), inflamed tongue, face, lips, eyes, and roof of mouth, a condition referred to as angioedema. These symptoms can occur at the same time in various parts of the body.

Some allergic reactions like anaphylaxis can cause very serious symptoms. Allergic reactions from foods arise when the body's immune system attacks proteins in the food. Although the proteins are harmless, the immune system perceives them as foreign substances. The body sends chemicals to attack the proteins, something that triggers allergy condition.

Almost all foods can trigger allergic reaction but there are those, which are mostly associated with allergies. In children, foods such as peanuts, eggs, tree nuts, shellfish, and milk are the most common causes of allergies. To add on this, children who show a background of suffering from an allergy skin condition known as eczema have higher chances of experiencing food allergies. The earlier and more serious the eczema manifests in a child, the more the child is likely to suffer food related allergies.

Allergies in adults are mostly caused by certain vegetables and fruits as well as crustaceans. Fruits like apples, pears, and kiwi fruits are among the triggers of allergies in adults. Vegetables like celery, potatoes, carrots, and parsnip also induce allergy conditions. Shellfish, prawns, crabs, lobster, fish, walnuts, brazil nuts, almonds, and pistachios are other common allergy inducing foods.

Although it is not exactly known why people suffer from allergic reactions, it is ascertained that people with other allergy conditions like asthma, eczema, and hay fever, also suffer from food allergies. Unfortunately there is no treatment for this condition but it can be managed by identifying the foods causing the reactions and doing away with them in future through elimination method.

To relieve mild to moderate symptoms of allergy, antihistamine medication may be applied as a treatment option. Another medication known as adrenaline is effectively used to treat serious forms of food allergies like anaphylaxis. Since allergy reactions can strike anytime, people who suffer from the condition may be given auto-injector pen device. This device has adrenaline dosages that can be used in case of emergencies when the reactions occur.

Children aged less than 3 years suffer from most food allergic conditions. Around one in every 14 children, aged less than 3 is likely to have one or several food allergies. Nonetheless, most children overcome the reactions caused by foods like eggs, milk, soya, and wheat before they start school meaning as their immune systems develop.




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