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What is a nut allergy? What are its symptoms? How is it diagnosed? What are the methods of prevention? Here is the most important information about it in this article:
What is a nut allergy?
Nut allergy is one of the most common food allergies. An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system, which is normally responsible for attacking an infection, overreacts to substances called allergens, in this case nuts.
How do you get an allergy to nuts?
When the body is exposed to these allergens, a group of cells in your body called mast cells release a substance called histamine, which causes allergy symptoms.
In some people, even small amounts of it can cause a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock.
Nut allergies include allergic reactions to almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, and chestnuts. Ingesting or inhaling small amounts of it may cause allergic reactions.
Symptoms of nut allergies?
The symptoms of allergic reaction to nuts range from mild to life-threatening.
Symptoms begin quickly within one hour of direct exposure to the nuts, sometimes within only a few minutes.
But symptoms that occur more than 4 hours after exposure to nuts are not likely to be an allergy.
1. Symptoms of mild nut allergy
Symptoms of a slight allergic reaction to nuts include:
Tingling and itching in the mouth and lips.
facial swelling;
nausea;
Skin rash and urticaria.
stomach ache.
Sensation of tightness around the throat.
vomiting.
sneeze.
Diarrhea.
Protruding eyes and runny nose.
2. Symptoms of severe nut allergy
Symptoms of a more severe allergic reaction to nuts include all of the above symptoms plus:
Wheezing or difficulty breathing due to an asthma-like attack, or swelling around the throat.
Dilatation of blood vessels, which may cause flushing of the skin, rapid heartbeat, and low blood pressure that may cause fainting or collapse.
These side effects are called anaphylaxis, which in the absence of prompt treatment may lead to loss of consciousness.
If you feel any of these symptoms or notice any of them, you should call 911 immediately to get urgent medical help.
How is a nut allergy diagnosed?
An accurate diagnosis is key because a nut allergy can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. Your doctor will take your medical history, ask you about any previous allergic reactions and any family history of allergies.
Allergies are diagnosed by skin prick testing and blood tests to detect the presence of IgE antibodies, an antibody that binds to allergens that stimulate the release of histamine that causes symptoms.
If these tests are not conclusive, your doctor may ask you to do what is known as an oral food test.
Where the patient ingests very small amounts of the substance that is believed to have caused him an allergic reaction, with the quantity increasing during a certain period, under strict supervision by the doctor, with the need for emergency medicines and emergency equipment to be available during this process.
Nut allergy treatment
The following actions are taken:
Take antihistamines to get rid of mild symptoms of allergy, such as: coughing or swelling.
Recognize the symptoms accompanying the emergence or exacerbation of cases.
Avoid all kinds of nuts.
Nut allergy prevention tips
The best way to live with a nut allergy is to avoid eating them. So you should always know the ingredients of the food you eat and avoid foods and drinks containing any source of nuts, a nutritionist may help you in this regard.
Always check the food label every time, even on products you've already checked, because ingredients may change. Avoiding whole nuts is easy, but it's more difficult to avoid nuts in processed foods.
Refrain from eating nuts and their oils, which are common ingredients in many foods, including: biscuits, pastries, chocolate, sweets, ice cream, breakfast cereals, cereal bars, nut butter, some additions to salads, flavored coffee, and other products.
Always pay attention when eating dishes that are foreign to you as Thai, Chinese and Indonesian dishes are famous for adding nuts and their oils.
Make a list of nut-free products from your supermarket. Always be sure to ask the restaurant staff if the dishes are nut-free, and it is best to speak to the chef directly to make sure of the matter when you go out to eat.
Avoid eating any food that you are not sure of. Make sure to take your nut allergy into account when you go out to a friend or family member for lunch.
Explain the topic to your child in detail, always making sure to prepare his food and not to share their food with others, if your child is allergic to nuts.
