Generally speaking, all foods can cause a rash. However, some are more allergenic than others: crustaceans, shellfish, some fish, umbelliferae (celery), peanuts, soy, dairy products (especially in children), eggs, some exotic fruits like pineapple, kiwi and avocado.
Symptoms range from simple itching in the mouth, vomiting, to severe anaphylactic reaction with urticaria-angioedema, breathing difficulty and shock (lowered blood pressure, fainting).
Diagnosis is based on anamnesis (patient’s history) due to the rapidity of the reaction. Diagnosis is then confirmed by skin prick-tests, IgE blood tests, and eventually an oral provocation test
Commercial extracts for skin testing are not well standardized (dubious quality), therefore our tests are prepared with fresh food.
Sometimes, the offending food is not easy to detect, for example, peanuts can be hidden in a salad dressing. This requires a more complex investigation.
Eviction: reading labels on processed foods is essential. If in doubt, or in the absence of such a list, it is better to abstain. Beware of the so-called “hidden food” (eg crushed peanuts in spaghetti sauce).
Emergency kit and allergy passport are useful in case the food is consumed inadvertently
Newborns and babies whose eczema worsens if they consume milk, a strict avoidance of milk must be carried out when starting on foods. Immune and digestive systems of the newborn gradually come to maturity. It will be possible to reintroduce the food under medical supervision at a later stage.
Prevention in infants
Breastfeeding is encouraged (should be preferred to bottles)
To prevent and detect at an early stage babies’ allergies, it is recommended to gradually introduce foods, one at a time. It is recommended to introduce fish only after the age of 2 ½ years, hazelnuts and almonds after 3 years and simply avoid peanuts.
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