Food allergy is an abnormal response of the body's immune system to foods. Although it is most commonly seen in childhood, it can be seen at almost any age. Although food allergies are more common in childhood, food allergies that occur in later years can lead to more serious clinical conditions. Food-related complaints are becoming more common due to the increase in additives used in the production and preparation of food.
At least 15-20% of people in the society are addicted to food after consuming a food. It is stated that complaints have been made. However, although the frequency of food allergies varies according to the food habits of societies, it is generally around 2-8% in children and 1-2% in adults. It is seen at a rate of2%in the entire population. Many studies conducted around the world show that there has been an increase in food allergies over the years.
FOOD ALLERGY OR FOOD INTOLERANCE IN ADULTS?
All kinds of negative effects caused by the foods we consume in our daily lives. Defining the effect as a food allergy is a common mistake. It would be correct to collect all abnormal conditions caused by the food itself or other factors taken with the food, whether or not they have an effect on our immune system, under the title of food reactions.
We can divide food reactions into two groups: In the first group, the content of the food we consume is different. “food (food) intolerance”, in which abnormal responses occur on the immune system without causing an excessive reaction, depending on its structural features.
Food intolerance is a food intolerance triggered by a food or food component. It is the body's adverse reaction. An example is lactose intolerance. Such reactions occur when milk and dairy products containing lactose are consumed, due to food or food components that cannot be digested or absorbed due to the immune system having no effect and lactose not being broken down in the body.
For example, people with lactose intolerance do not have lactase enzymes to digest the lactose sugar in milk. I will not be found is flowing. Lactose intolerance is the most well-known food intolerance seen in 50% of adults in the world.
Some people also use flavor enhancers (monosodium glutamate) or preservatives (sulphite) They have intolerance to additives such as >. Food intolerance symptoms can be confused with food allergy. For this reason, it is important to be evaluated by an allergist to determine the causes of a reaction to a food.
The second group is “food allergy”, which includes hypersensitivity reactions that occur through the immune system against allergens we ingest with food. takes place. These hypersensitivity reactions occur as early allergic reactions in which immunoglobulin E (IgE) molecules produced by the immune system play the leading role, or as a result of late type reactions in which immunoglobulin IgE molecules do not play a role in the immune system. It may come out. Diseases such as urticaria, angioedema, anaphylaxis, eczema, eosinophilic gastritis, colitis, enterocolitis are all included in food allergies.
Food allergy depends on the excessive response created by the immune system against the allergen contained in the food consumed. For example, complaints such as itching on the body, redness, swelling in the eyelids and lips, and shortness of breath after consuming milk develop due to the formation of IgE antibodies against the allergens in milk. Allergy to cow's milk should be diagnosed and treated before it causes more serious reactions.
Since food allergies can lead to reactions that may result in death, the distinction between whether the reaction occurring after eating food is food intolerance or food allergy must be made by allergists.
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WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FOOD (FOOD) INTOLERANCE IN ADULTS?
Food intolerance is common in the modern world and affects 15-20% of the population. There are studies showing that it affects Food intolerance does not have effects on the immune system. Structural properties, pharmacological effects, chemical structure of food or food ingredients It may occur as a response to food intake or enzyme deficiencies or enzyme errors that break down food.
Most of those with food intolerance have complaints about the digestive system. It is seen that 50-84% of complaints in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is the most common in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, are related to food intolerance.
Digestion. It causes complaints related to the digestive system such as increased gas, abdominal pain, bloating or diarrhea.
It can also cause complaints outside the digestive system such as migraine, headache, cough, runny nose, feeling airless.
The most common foods that cause food intolerance are Wheat bread, Cabbage, Onion, Peas / beans, Milk, Spices, Oil / fried foods and beverages such as coffee.
Food intolerance in adults. What are the reasons?
1.Enzymes are required to fully digest food. If some of the enzymes secreted to break down foods in the digestive system are missing or working inadequately, proper digestion will not occur.
In people with lactose intolerance, a protein that breaks milk sugar (lactose) into smaller pieces and allows it to be absorbed through the intestine. The enzyme lactase is not present in sufficient quantity. If lactose remains in the digestive system, it causes complaints such as stomach pain, spasm, bloating, diarrhea and gas.
In the absence of enzymes that break down fructose, complaints such as recurrent abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and low blood sugar, especially after eating fruit or fruit juices. may occur.
All foods require an enzyme to digest. Complaints related to enzyme deficiencies such as fructose intolerance and lactose intolerance are confused with food allergies. Enzyme deficiencies are a cause of food intolerance.
2.Chemical substances contained in foods and beverages, amines found in some cheeses and caffeine found in coffee, tea and chocolate can cause various complaints. Some people are more sensitive to these chemicals than others. For example, palpitations may occur when you drink coffee.
3.Foods naturally contain chemicals that have toxic effects. and this causes diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
Undercooked beans contain aflatoxins, which can cause extremely unpleasant digestive problems. Fully cooked beans do not contain toxins. Therefore, they may sometimes react when they eat beans.
4.Some foods, such as fish, that have not been stored properlycan cause histamine accumulation due to "rotting and staling". Histamine accumulated in foods can lead to skin rashes, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. Generally, the symptoms cause a strong reaction similar to anaphylaxis.
5.While the salicylate contained in some foods does not cause any problems in normal people, some salicylate-sensitive people experience itching, redness, swelling and shortness of breath as a reaction. Complaints such as dizziness occur. Salicylates are salicylic acid derivatives naturally produced in plants as a defense mechanism against harmful bacteria, fungi, insects, and disease.
Salicylates are found in most fruits and vegetables and most plant-derived foods, including spices, herbs, tea, and flavor additives. . Mint flavoring, tomato sauce, strawberries and citrus fruits have particularly high levels of salicylate content. Foods processed with flavor additives often contain high levels of salicylates.
6.Intolerance to additives put into foods has become an increasing problem in the last three decades, as more and more food additives are used. It contains.
Additives added to foods are used to increase the taste of foods, make them attractive and extend their shelf life. Reactions have been described especially with nitrites, monosodium glutamate, sulfites and some coloring substances.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FOOD ALLERGY IN ADULTS?
Food allergy is caused by the intake of foods. It then occurs due to the excessive response of the immune system. Complaints related to food allergies occur on the immune system via IgE or independently of IgE. Food allergies that appear in childhood can occur throughout our lives, and food allergies that occur late in life can be a common problem. allergies usually do not go away
Food allergy can cause very serious and life-threatening reactions after ingesting very small amounts of the allergic food.
What kind of complaints do food allergies cause?
In food allergy, complaints may manifest themselves differently in many organs of our body. In food allergies, after ingestion of the food to which you are allergic, rash around the mouth, redness on the face or body, itching, eczema symptoms may be seen, as well as symptoms of wheezing, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, nasal congestion, bloody stools, constipation, vomiting, severe gas pain and allergic shock. It can cause more serious life-threatening complaints such as.
If the frequency of complaints in food allergies is considered by organ, the skin and digestive system are the most affected organs, but it also causes various complaints in other systems.
Skin If we look at the complaints seen on it, Urticaria, angioedema, Itching, Redness/Flushing, Atopic dermatitis may be seen
Symptoms seen in the digestive system:Itching and/or edema in the tongue, lips and mouth, Nausea, Vomiting may include Abdominal pain, Vomiting reflux, Diarrhea
In the cardiovascular system: Serious life-threatening complaints such as Palpitations/Tachycardia, Dizziness, Loss of consciousness/fainting, Hypotension may be observed.
>In the respiratory system: There may be upper respiratory tract complaints such as nasal congestion, itching, discharge, sneezing and hoarseness, swelling of the epiglottis, laryngeal edema, or more serious asthma complaints such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. It can be seen together.
Complaints such as itching in the eyes, redness, discharge and metallic pain, contraction in the uterus, and a feeling of faintness can be observed.
As seen in food allergies, it can manifest itself with various complaints on many systems. Sometimes it may present with urticaria and sometimes with a more serious allergic shock.
What clinical presentations occur with food allergy?
The emergence of food allergies affects the immune system. with IgE
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