What is the Relationship Between a Nut Allergy and Peanuts?

Food allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, including skin, digestive, respiratory, and cardiovascular disorders. Any food can become an allergen.

Basic Information

English name

food allergy

Visiting department

Allergy Section

Common symptoms

Mouth numbness, itchy throat, rash all over, swelling of the skin, etc.

Food Allergy Epidemiology

The incidence of anaphylactic shock in Western countries is rapidly increasing. Surveys in North America, Europe, and Australia confirm that the incidence of anaphylactic shock is approximately 0.05% to 2%. An epidemiological survey of the general population in the United States from 2002 to 2003 found that anaphylactic shock has affected the lives of 1.21% of Americans, and 11 million people have "failed" with life-threatening anaphylactic shock. At present, the incidence of food allergies in children in Western countries is 2% to 8%, adults are 1% to 2%. In the United States, nuts such as peanuts are the main "culprit" of lethal anaphylactic shock. There is no relevant statistical data in China, but clinically, there are more and more cases of food allergy.

Clinical manifestations of food allergies

Patients often develop rashes, swollen bodies, tight throats, and even syncope without a clear cause of the allergen.

The patient feels numbness of the mouth and itchy throat after ingesting the allergen. This is the lightest manifestation; severe cases can cause rashes and swelling of the skin; the most serious can cause anaphylactic shock, acute asthma, throat edema, etc. can be put to death Reaction.

Food allergy check

There are two current test methods. One is a prick test, which is to put a small amount of suspected allergens under the patient's skin to see the skin's response; the other is a blood test to perform specific antibody tests. However, the former is risky. Some people will react violently even if they are exposed to trace amounts of allergens, so they should be implemented with caution.

Food Allergy Diagnosis

The diagnosis of food allergies is as important as the description of the medical history and the results of the test. The patient must describe the environment, situation, and consultation situation each time he or she commits an illness, so that the doctor can target a limited number of suspicious foods and conduct further examinations. Make a diagnosis based on the test results.

Food Allergy Treatment

Food allergies cannot currently be treated for desensitization. The purpose of checking allergens is first to let patients know which foods they should avoid. This is the most important way to prevent anaphylactic shock. In addition, it is currently found that there is a cross phenomenon of allergies to pollen and fruits. For example, people allergic to birch pollen may be allergic to apples and others, and people allergic to wormwood may be allergic to peaches or other fruits. Finding an allergen can help patients avoid the associated dangers. In addition, food allergens also have cross-allergies. For example, people who are allergic to food A will be allergic to food B after a period of time. Some food allergies will improve after a while. Therefore, not only should the allergens be checked when the diagnosis is made, but also every 1 to 2 years after the diagnosis, so as to understand that the allergens have not changed, so as to better avoid risks.