Peanut allergy (peanut): everything you need to know about peanut allergy

According to World Health Organization, food allergies are adverse reactions to foods, which have an immune mechanism at their origin, and currently there are more than 70 foods that cause food allergies, being the only way to avoid them for those affected, is not to consume these foods.

Generally, the foods most frequently involved and those that cause the most severe reactions are cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, soy, milk, peanuts and other types of nuts. In fact, did you know that Allergy to peanuts is more common about you think?.

Allergies to eggs and milk are the most frequent in children, allergy to shellfish is the most frequent in adults, while allergy to peanuts or peanut is the same as usual in both age groups.

What are the symptoms of peanut allergies?

They usually start within one or two hours after eating the peanuts. Sometimes, the symptoms can begin many hours after the peanut has been consumed, and they have come to produce the death.

The key elements of a food allergy are the urticaria, hoarse voice and respiratory noise or wheezing. Other symptoms may occur, such as swelling of the eyelids, face, lips and tongue; difficulty swallowing or breathing due to swelling of the throat; itching in the mouth, throat, eyes and skin, dizziness or fainting.

There are also the oral allergies, which only affects the mouth and tongue after eating, with itching and swelling. In strong reactions may present arterial hypotension and blockage in the respiratory tract.

Tests to determine peanut allergies

There are different tests to determine if a person is allergic, such as skin or blood tests. There is also the double blind test, in which it is exposed to food and thus determines to which foods the patient is allergic.

There are also the elimination diets, in them suspicious foods are avoided until the symptoms reappear. After that, you begin to eat the food again to see if you have an allergic reaction.

Peanut allergy is not a game

Before, it was considered that this allergy lasted for life, but recent studies clarify that even more than 20% of children who suffer from it, when they reach adulthood, they overcome it.

Peanut allergy is not a game, It can be so dangerous and cause death of the person who suffers, as was the case of a Canadian who died after kissing her boyfriend, who nine hours earlier had eaten a peanut butter sandwich.

Many studies have now been conducted that have determined that children who consume peanuts or peanut butter from an early age, compared to those who consume peanuts or peanut butter at an early age, are not allergic.

Useful tips that will help you

If you suspect a peanut allergy, check the food labels before consuming them, they are usually included in processed and prepared foods.

If you have siblings, have them done allergy tests to the peanuts before they try to eat them, since there is a genetic component suspect.

There are people who have this type of allergy that can present a reaction with only smell or touch some product with peanut

Not only does peanut allergy show itself physically or through a discomfort like itching or pain, it can also generate digestive discomforts such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.

If you are allergic to peanuts or peanuts, what should you avoid consuming?

  • Dishes of African, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese or any ethnic cuisine, as they usually use peanut butter in their dishes.
  • Sweets, cakes and baked goods with unknown ingredients.
  • Cereals with fruits for breakfast, as well as bars of salted nuts.
  • Energy bars or concentrated food.
  • Candy and barradas de dulce, ice cream and frozen yogurt and filled cookies.
  • Chilli or packaged chili and spaghetti sauce, as they use butter or peanut flour as a thickening agent for them. In addition to pesto sauce, which is created with nuts.
  • Products and typical Christmas foods such as nougat or marzipan.
This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor.

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