This is our immune system that protects our body from infection. Our body produces a type of proteins which are known as antibodies and these antibodies fight against the germs that cause some infection. There are many kinds of anti-bodies and some of them that cause some allergic reaction are known as IgE.
It is considered that IgE antibodies form in response to those infections that are caused by parasites. It is not yet known why, but some other things like pollen or some foods also make IgE in some people that give rise to allergies.
The IgE serves like a label that sticks to molecules in pollen or food known as allergens. The IgE sticks to the allergens and starts an allergic reaction whenever someone with allergy takes this problem food. The release of histamine is one of the usual effects that IgE stimulates and this release of histamine brings changes in our bodies as symptoms like wheezing or nettle rash.
It has not been fully understood why some foods trigger allergies while others don’t do that. According to a theory it is may be the result of some proteins in specific foods that have somewhat similar appearance to proteins in bacteria and viruses and usually this is found in genetically inclined people as their immune systems can’t recognize whether the protein is from food or from virus or bacteria one and thus launches an attack.
Some common symptoms of Food Allergy
Skin rash, longer lasting rashes that are known as atopic dermatitis, itchy eyes and nose, coughing, itching and swelling around lips , nausea, cramping pains ,bloating ,diarrhea and vomiting are some symptoms that usually occur after food allergies.
The process of diagnosis
A clinical examination for the detection of IgE antibodies and the patient’s clinical history are used to diagnosis food allergy at the initial stages and blood and Skin piercing tests are made for this purpose.
Sometimes, the existence of IgE doesn’t essentially lead to signs and symptoms of food allergy. That’s why it is essential to do a challenge test with the supposed food that involves offering the food to the patient.
How to manage food allergies?
If some signs or some possible symptoms of food allergy or intolerance are found, a visit to the GP is the first place to take a start with and this GP can suggest you to an allergy specialist who performs a right diagnosis. The avoidance from causative food is necessary when the diagnosis of food allergy is made once. Often complete avoidance from allergic foods for one to two years can eliminate clinical symptoms but some allergies from fish or peanuts remains for life. It is also quite difficult to have complete avoidance of allergic food as most of the time the presence of small quantities is found in commercially manufactured foods.
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