Answer: There are few things scarier for a parent than seeing their child having an allergic reaction, and if you’ve ever heard the scare stories, you’ll know that it’s not something anyone would like to go through. This week we’re looking at the most common food types that may trigger an unexpected attack and a little about what such a reaction might entail. This will be followed next week then by a closer look at how we can watch out for these symptoms and what the best course of action is should they occur.
It might surprise some of us to learn that some of the most common food allergies are ones which we think of being so everyday, that we hardly think about them at all. For example -
Milk
Milk, a veritable staple of the Irish diet, and with it other dairy products, is among one of the more common food groups that can bring out negative symptoms when consumed by young children. It should be noted that breast milk is still the best option for a baby’s health and growth, but symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, reflux, and even shock in some cases can result from the switch to cow’s milk and formula. Infant formula contains a percentage of cow’s milk protein. The Irish Food Allergy Network mentions that a milk allergy is particularly difficult to spot and will more than likely require a higher amount of clinical inspection.
Eggs
Along with milk, eggs are also a common allergy trigger food, but the possibility of a problem with them is often overlooked as mere fussiness. As eggs can be included in a wide number of dishes and in a variety of cooked forms, they are also one of the harder allergy foods to spot. A common misconception of children with egg allergies is that they should avoid the MMR vaccine, as a story emerged some years back that the shot somehow contained egg or egg extracts. This is a total falsity, and there is no substantiated reason for children with egg allergies to avoid getting this vital inoculation.
Nuts
A nut allergy can be amongst the most serious of conditions, and tragically, can even result in fatalities. Somewhat like an egg allergy, the problem with nuts is that they are often included in a wide range of foods that most of us would not expect, such as chilli dishes, for example, vegetable protein, and even chocolate that is not specifically marketed as nut flavoured.
Nut allergies are often differentiated between peanut and tree nut allergies, and it is possible to suffer from one without having a problem without the other. In both cases, however, the body’s reaction is the same. Mistaking the proteins in the nut or nut extracts for harmful agents the body reacts to defend itself and releases substances like histamines which are in effect more harmful than the contaminant.
Nut allergies, once diagnosed, should be treated with the gravest seriousness, both by the sufferer, but also by the people around them, like family, teachers, friends, and classmates.
Shellfish
While an egg allergy usually affects children, a hypersensitivity to shellfish is generally found in adults. Allergies to certain breeds and types of ordinary, finned fish are also common, with salmon and tuna two of the most likely. It’s possible to test for the breeds of fish that patients are susceptible to, but doctors will usually advise patients to avoid all fish to be on the safe side. This is the best course of action to take with shellfish also, as allergic reactions to species like crab and shrimp or one of the mollusc varieties, like mussels and scallops, are severe.
Wheat/Gluten
Wheat allergies is another condition that is more common in children and can sometimes develop in adolescence. In the last few years, gluten has perhaps become the most publicised of the wheat proteins due to celiac disease, but reactions to globulin and gliadin are in fact more common. Celiac disease is not actually an allergic condition, but a problem with digestion occurring in the small intestine.
Wheat allergies will often mean that common foods like bread and cereals will not to be avoided (as well desserts like cakes unfortunately), and your pharmacist or doctor will be able to advise on alternatives. For grown-ups, a wheat allergy might also unfortunately mean having to cut down on or forego wheat beer and ale, but for many of us no doubt that’s a positive!
Finally, if you’re worried that abstaining from any of the foods on the list will result in a vitamin deficiency, then there is a full complement of supplements available at your pharmacist’s that will make sure that you’re covered from any shortfalls.
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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy
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