Food Allergies
Food allergy is a reaction from the response of the immune system. It is a reaction to fight the harmful ingredient in the food. Food allergies vary between infants, children, and adults. The sign and symptoms for food allergies can show reactions that are minor to severe. Treatment for food allergies depend on the signs and symptoms.
In infants and young children, they have reactions to milk or soy milk if they are allergic to it. “Allergies to milk or soy formula (a milk substitute made from soybeans) sometimes occur in infants and young children. These early allergies sometimes do not involve the usual hives or asthma but rather can cause symptoms resembling infantile colic, and perhaps blood in the stool, or poor growth” (Stöppler). The reaction of food allergy in infants is monitored to see if there are any changes in the infants’ diet. The symptoms for children and adults are somewhat similar but with a different pattern. According to Stöppler: In adults, the most common foods that cause allergic reactions are shellfish, such as shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and crab; nuts from trees, such as walnuts; fish; eggs; and peanuts, a legume that is one of the chief foods that cause serious anaphylactic reactions. In children, the most common foods that cause allergic reactions are eggs, milk, peanuts, and fruits, particularly tomatoes and strawberries. Children sometimes outgrow their allergies, but adults usually do not lose theirs.
Food allergies happen when the body takes in food with an ingredient that the body cannot handle. “It occurs when the body mistakes an ingredient in food – usually a protein – as harmful and creates a defense system (antibodies) to fight it. Food allergy symptoms develop when the antibodies are battling the “invading” food” (WebMD, Feb 2009). Some people form allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, soy products, wheat and other products. Food allergies can be mistake for food intolerance. Food intolerance is a
In infants and young children, they have reactions to milk or soy milk if they are allergic to it. “Allergies to milk or soy formula (a milk substitute made from soybeans) sometimes occur in infants and young children. These early allergies sometimes do not involve the usual hives or asthma but rather can cause symptoms resembling infantile colic, and perhaps blood in the stool, or poor growth” (Stöppler). The reaction of food allergy in infants is monitored to see if there are any changes in the infants’ diet. The symptoms for children and adults are somewhat similar but with a different pattern. According to Stöppler: In adults, the most common foods that cause allergic reactions are shellfish, such as shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and crab; nuts from trees, such as walnuts; fish; eggs; and peanuts, a legume that is one of the chief foods that cause serious anaphylactic reactions. In children, the most common foods that cause allergic reactions are eggs, milk, peanuts, and fruits, particularly tomatoes and strawberries. Children sometimes outgrow their allergies, but adults usually do not lose theirs.
Food allergies happen when the body takes in food with an ingredient that the body cannot handle. “It occurs when the body mistakes an ingredient in food – usually a protein – as harmful and creates a defense system (antibodies) to fight it. Food allergy symptoms develop when the antibodies are battling the “invading” food” (WebMD, Feb 2009). Some people form allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, soy products, wheat and other products. Food allergies can be mistake for food intolerance. Food intolerance is a
Cited: "Anaphylaxis." MedlinePlus. 02 May 2010. Web. 22 Oct 2010. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000817.htm>. "Food Allergies-Treatment Overview." WebMD. 09 Mar 2009. Web. 1 Nov 2010. <http://www.webmd.com/allergies/tc/food-allergies-treatment-overview>. "Is It a Food Allergy or Intolerance?" WebMD. 05 Feb 2009. Web. 22 Oct 2010. <http://www.webmd.com/allergies/foods-allergy-intolerance>. Stöppler, Melissa Conrad. "Food Allergy." MedicineNet.com. 04 May 2010. Web. 22 Oct 2010. <http://www.medicinenet.com/food_allergy/artic;e.htm>.