FOOD ALLERGY TESTS

How to prepare for allergy testing? Antihistamine and antidepressant drugs should be stopped 3-5 days before testing, but only with doctor’s approval.

Skin Prick Test

A skin prick test can confirm allergies to certain foods. A drop of a dissolved food sample is placed on the forearm, and pricked with a needle and thus pushed beneath the skin; a red bump, appearing in 10-15 minutes (in delayed reaction in several hours) speaks for allergy (1). False positive results are common but false negative results are rare. The size of the skin reaction does not reflects the severity of allergy. Rarely, an anaphylactic reaction (a life threatening immune response) may occur during the test.

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What is Eosinophilic Colitis?

Eosinophilic colitis (EC) is a rare allergic disorder of an unkown cause in which eosinophils, a special type of white blood cells, can be found in the colon. In many cases a food that triggers allergy can be identified. Both children and adults may be affected.

Disorder is a part of eosinophilic gastroenteritis that may affect only the colon, or any other part of the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum.

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Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in ADULTS

Acute diarrhea in most cases stops on its own in few days. If there’s no fever or other debilitating symptom, affected person can continue with regular activities but should avoid any strain.

Fluid Replacement

An adult with a mild diarrhea can drink plain water or tea, a cup (250 ml) at the time, and repeatedly through the day to maintain more than 200 ml of translucent or bright yellow morning urine and more than 500 ml of daily urine. In severe diarrhea, drinks with sugar and salt, like Gatorade or Rehydralyte, are recommended since they provide faster rehydration. Combination of diluted fruit juice (1:1) with salt crackers or salt broth is also appropriate. Drinks to avoid: alcohol, caffeinated and carbonated drinks, and in prolonged diarrhea also milk; they may all aggravate diarrhea.

continue reading Treating Diarrhea with Rehydration, Diet, Remedies, Medications