Dorothy FarrarNuss allergy
Nut allergies are among the most serious allergies. They manifest themselves in particularly severe complaints and often represent an enormous restriction in the quality of life for the affected person. The symptoms and complaints can vary from person to person, because not everyone affected is allergic to the same type of nuts, for example.
What is a nut allergy?
Nuts are the seeds of numerous different plant families – in addition to the well-known hazelnuts, these also include Brazil nuts, coconuts and pistachios.
The nut allergy is a food allergy . This allergy proves to be particularly difficult to manage compared to other allergies because, unlike other foods, the nut’s allergenic ingredients cannot be destroyed by heating or otherwise processing it. People in Germany who suffer from a nut allergy are mostly allergic to hazelnuts or walnuts. Anyone who is allergic to one nut does not automatically have an allergic reaction to other types of nuts.
causes
The cause of an allergy to nuts is basically based on the immune system of the affected person. When the nut is eaten, the body reacts with an immune response. In these cases, he cannot distinguish the harmless substance from a pathogen and wants to fight the supposedly harmful nut. Then the symptoms that are typical of the nut allergy appear. As a rule, this form of allergy only occurs after repeated contact with the allergen.
Another cause of food allergies can be a very high level of stress. This can be due to a very strenuous job or a stroke of fate. As a result of the increased stress, the symptoms of an allergy appear when a nut or food containing nuts is eaten.
However, the allergy to nuts can also occur in combination with other allergies: the nut allergy is often caused by a so-called cross-reaction. In particular, early-blooming pollen can be recognized as the cause. This so-called cross allergy is considerably milder than the isolated nut allergy.
symptoms and course
The symptoms of a nut allergy can vary from person to person and depend primarily on the severity of the allergy. The same applies to the course of the disease: not every body reacts in the same way to the same amount of nuts.
In the case of the aforementioned cross- allergy in combination with pollen, the symptoms are mostly limited to the oral area. In this case, the oral mucosa and lips are primarily affected. These can then either tingle, feel numb or have a burning sensation in more severe allergies. This is called oral allergy syndrome.
In the case of the classic, isolated allergy to nuts, in addition to the oral symptoms, there can also be complaints in the gastrointestinal tract if a nut has been eaten. Asthma attacks are also not uncommon. Severe allergies can also lead to circulatory collapse, shortness of breath or even anaphylactic shock. There is even a risk of death if you don’t act quickly!
Diagnose
A doctor can check whether the nut allergy is actually present. This is often difficult in the case of food allergies, since the nut is often not considered as the trigger.
The so-called skin prick test , in which various substances are applied to a limited area on the forearm, is a common diagnostic procedure. A lancet is then pricked into the skin. After a short time, the doctor checks whether the skin is showing a reaction – an existing allergy is usually expressed by reddening, wheals or other skin irritations.
treatment and therapy
Unfortunately, the treatment of a nut allergy cannot usually lead to a cure. Children often have an allergic reaction to some substances, but they lose this allergy over time – only a lot of stress can cause the clinical picture to reappear in adulthood. Anyone who first discovers a nut allergy as an adult must try to change their diet over the long term.
Many consumers are usually unaware of how many foods actually contain nuts. It is therefore all the more important for those affected to deal intensively with this topic. This is particularly important for the parents of children who suffer from nut allergies: it should be made clear to the children which foods are okay and what should be avoided.
In the case of packaged foods, the ingredients must be examined in detail. Affected people must pay particular attention to terms such as nut butter, nut pulp, nut oil, tree nuts, gianduia, but also brittle, marzipan, nuts and nougat. These ingredients can become dangerous in the food if an allergy is present. For example, the enjoyment of chocolate is usually no longer possible.
It is particularly important to be careful with unpackaged food: sellers are not obliged to print any information on the packaging of the product. This applies above all to fresh bread from the bakery, but the people concerned should also ask the butcher and get information to be on the safe side.
As a safety measure, it is advisable to carry an emergency kit with you. The pre-filled syringes can be used if symptoms occur.
prevention
The best way to prevent a nut allergy is to avoid nuts. This can entail a certain reduction in quality of life, but allergic reactions can be effectively avoided in this way. It is also worth strengthening your own immune system. Before an allergy is diagnosed, care should be taken, especially in children, to never eat too much of the same food over a long period of time.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.