Symptoms
Clinical manifestations depend on the causative product, the key mechanism of reaction and the age of the patient. Thus, in children in the first year of life, the main irritants are proteins of cow’s milk. This is manifested by predominantly lesions of the skin. We are talking about urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis.
Other symptoms can be damage to the respiratory tract (allergic rhinitis, throat swelling, cough, bronchial asthma), gastrointestinal tract (colitis, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, anorexia), cardiovascular system (tachycardia, heart rhythm disorder, anaphylactic shock).
We would like to go into detail on the last case. Anaphylaxis is the most severe systemic reaction. It develops most often within a few minutes after the consumption of the causative product. The main manifestations here include:
- laryngeal edema;
- hives;
- cough, bronchospasm;
- abdominal pain, diarrhea;
- vascular collapse.
Treatment
Diagnosis of food allergies begins with a detailed history. It includes clarification of the full list of suspected products, the time interval between intake and the occurrence of a reaction, the amount of medication therapy performed in order to relieve symptoms.
Subsequently, laboratory and instrumental studies are performed. On the basis of the results further recommendations are determined.
Treatment can be divided into two main principles – non-medication and medication.
The first option is used in a mild course. An elimination diet, which includes the complete elimination of the cause-significant product, would be sufficient here. It is important to give up only the food, the connection of which has been established with the symptoms of hypersensitivity. That is, any diet must be justified.
In the second case, drug therapy is aimed at stopping the clinical manifestations. The main role here belongs to antihistamines. If we talk about food anaphylaxis, the main means of salvation is adrenaline.
