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Reaction to Food—Do you have Food Allergies?

Contributed by: Neil Henning, Pharm.D. Candidate

KU School of Pharmacy

Text Box: Food allergies occur when your body’s immune system comes across a chemical in food that it views as potentially dangerous. In its attempt to rid the body of the “danger,” often times the immune system creates another problem that sometimes can be life threatening. How does it happen? The first time a food is eaten, the immune system decides whether it is harmless or if it is foreign and possibly dangerous. If it is seen as dangerous, antibodies will be made to prepare for the next time the food is eaten. This is why the reaction will usually happen the second time you eat the offending food. At that time, those specific antibodies will quickly multiply and cause the release of histamine and other chemicals. Those chemicals are responsible for the symptoms you see in a reaction like a tingling sensation in the mouth, hives, or some of the more serious symptoms listed below. How is it treated? Some mild allergic reactions like hives can be treated with antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) or Claritin (loratidine) over-the-counter. More serious reactions, like one called

Text Box: anaphylaxis, where your airways can close off, require the use of an epinephrine injection and a visit to the emergency room. Epinephrine self-injections are available by prescription only under the name Epi-Pen. When do I call 911? Any of the following symptoms are indicative of an emergency: Developing the same symptoms of a past severe reaction Difficulty breathing Pale or blue areas on the face or ears Lightheadedness Nausea and vomiting Swelling of the throat or tongue Sense of impending doom How do I avoid allergy-causing foods? The best way to deal with food allergies is prevention. Unfortunately cross-contamination is possible and allergy-triggering ingredients can be in many places including the glue on envelopes and the dyes used in prescription drugs. Usually the most uncommon allergies like corn or dye allergies are the hardest to prevent. The glue you lick on an envelope can contain corn products and many prescription and over-

Text Box: the-counter drugs contain red dye for example. The more common allergies like peanut, tree nut, fish, and shellfish can be avoided by carefully reading ingredient labels and making restaurants aware of your allergies. Even taking these precautions may not be enough, however, due to accidental cross-contamination. This is the reason that any factory that makes products with nuts will label all products “may contain nuts.” Cross-contamination like this can occur anywhere food is served which makes it very important to have a plan of action if you have had serious reactions in the past. Carrying an Epi-Pen injection and knowing how and when to use it can save a life. For more information on food allergies, visit your health care professional or log on to www.foodallergy.org.