Food allergy | Scientific articles | Media-center | Leleka
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Food allergy | Scientific articles | Media-center | Leleka

Food allergy

Food allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to food components in a genetically predisposed person. Today, prevention of food allergy is an important health issue for children and adults. Manifestations of food allergy can range from slight symptoms to life-threatening conditions.

Food allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to food components in a genetically predisposed person. Today, prevention of food allergy is an important health issue for children and adults. Manifestations of food allergy can range from slight symptoms to life-threatening conditions.

It is impossible to predict the severity and duration of an allergic reaction. Food which caused mild symptoms may cause severe symptoms at other times. Allergy can occur to food which you have been eating without any problems for years.

Food allergy is more common in children than in adults. Factors contributing to the occurrence of food allergy are genetic predisposition, artificial feeding, monotonous diet, inflammatory bowel disorders, dysbiosis, protozoal invasions, decreased gastric acidity, pancreatic insufficiency, enzymopathy, biliary dyskinesia, the intestinal microbiome composition, the state of local immunity.

Almost all foods, with the exception of salt and sugar, can cause an allergic reaction. In children, food allergy is most often caused by milk, eggs and peanuts. Most symptoms occur within a few minutes to 2 hours after eating; in some cases — after 4-6 hours or later. The most serious allergic reaction is anaphylaxis which is manifested itself as difficulty breathing, a sudden fall in blood pressure and rapid heartbeat. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition which requires the immediate administration of adrenaline. Therefore, you must have a written emergency action plan.

In humans, food allergy to a particular food component can be a cross-reaction to other foods. You need to contact an allergist to study the nature of your allergy and the risk of anaphylaxis, as well as to get specific recommendations what foods to avoid. A nutritionist will help you to choose an individual meal plan taking into account all the recommendations, provide information on how to read the list of ingredients, keep a daily meal schedule and feed your child outside the house (restaurant, kindergarten, school, birthday party, etc.)

The prognosis for food allergy is uncertain. Over time, tolerance to milk, eggs, wheat, soybeans may develop (the child may outgrow the food allergy). As a rule, allergies to peanuts, nuts, fish and seafood persist throughout life. It is impossible to predict whether a child will inherit a food allergy, even if his/her parents or siblings have food allergy. Clinical studies are being conducted on how to prevent the development of food allergy.

To date, there is no data confirming the possibility of primary prevention of allergy by restricting the mother’s diet during pregnancy and lactation, as well as eliminating allergenic foods in infants over 6 months. On the contrary, there are studies on the positive effect of early introduction of allergenic foods (in particular, peanuts) on the development of tolerance to these foods.


Prevention of food allergy.

Infants at high risk for developing allergy are children who have at least one parent or sibling with a history of allergies. Exclusive breastfeeding or feeding with hydrolysed formula is recommended for high-risk infants for the first 4-6 months of life (selected with your paediatrician or family doctor).

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease accompanied by itching; it has a recurrent course and is common in families with other atopic disorders (bronchial asthma and/or allergic rhinitis)

The information was prepared by Lesia Sytnyk, obstetrician-gynaecologist at Leleka Maternity Hospital.

Authors

Sytnyk Lesia

Nutritionist
Experience - 19 years

Date of publication: 12 May 2020 year
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  • Food allergy | Scientific articles | Media-center | Leleka
  • Food allergy | Scientific articles | Media-center | Leleka

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