Food allergy reactions range from mild to life-threatening, depending on the person.
The Nemours Foundation says common warning signs of a milder allergic reaction to food may include:
- A tight feeling in the throat, or a hoarse voice.
- Coughing and wheezing.
- Nausea, vomiting or stomach pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Hives or skin rash.
- A tingling sensation on the lips or tongue.
- Runny nose.
In more serious cases, food allergy may cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis, which may cause a person's breathing pathways to narrow, blood pressure to drop, and tongue to swell. This should be treated as a life-threatening medical emergency.
Health Tip: Protect Against Peanut Reactions
If your child is allergic to peanuts or nuts, strict precautions can help prevent a life-threatening reaction.
The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions:
- Ban nuts from your home, or take precautions to avoid cross-contamination of foods.
- Avoid serving your child meals that you didn't make, or meals for which you haven't seen a complete ingredient list.
- Talk to all food service people in a restaurant about the nut allergy. Before you eat, make sure they're confident they can avoid cross-contamination.
- Prepare your child's snacks and meals for school, and for outings with friends.
- Have the child or caregiver carry an epinephrine pen. Prepare an action plan, in the event of anaphylaxis, for your child's teachers, principal or day-care workers.
No comments:
Post a Comment