Therapy target Freedom from symptoms Therapy recommendations There is no drug therapy for food allergy! In the presence of anaphylactic shock – see under “Shock/Medicinal Therapy“. If there is a reasonable suspicion of a food allergy (see below laboratory diagnostics), a so-called elimination diet is carried out for a maximum of 2 weeks. This involves … Food Allergy: Drug Therapy
The diagnosis of food allergy is made by history, physical examination, and laboratory diagnosis.
To prevent food allergy, attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors. Behavioral risk factors Diet Unilateral overeating Spices – substance that promotes absorption. Consumption of stimulants Alcohol – substance that promotes resorption Tobacco (smoking) Passive smoking in the womb and in early childhood → risk increase for sensitization to food at ages 4, … Food Allergy: Prevention
Symptoms of allergy occur primarily in interface organs that are particularly endowed with immunocompetent cell systems – B and T lymphocytes. These include the gastrointestinal tract, the skin and the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. According to studies, symptoms are predominantly seen in the skin (43% of cases), followed by respiratory tract (23%), gastrointestinal … Food Allergy: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs
Pathogenesis (development of disease) In terms of their triggers, two forms of food allergy are distinguished: Primary food allergy: due to gastrointestinal sensitization to predominantly stable food allergens (e.g., milk and chicken egg whites, soy, wheat, peanut, and tree nuts)Anaphylactic shock due to food allergy (most common trigger of severe anaphylaxis in childhood) In young … Food Allergy: Causes
Measures to treat food allergy: Individual diet with allergen abstinence – elimination of the allergenic food or allergens. Listing of alternatives to the avoiding foods to ensure an adequate supply of nutrients and vital substances (macro- and micronutrients) – for example, in case of cow’s milk allergy, the calcium supply can be improved with calcium-containing … Food Allergy: Nutritional Therapy
The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by food allergy: Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93). Allergic enteritis (AE; inflammation of the small intestine) and colitis (inflammation of the large intestine) [children with cow’s milk or soy allergy; adults with chicken egg and wheat allergy]. … Food Allergy: Secondary Diseases
A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further: Inspection (viewing). Skin, mucous membranes [allergic contact dermatitis or contact dermatitis (redness and swelling of the skin, itching, burning, development of small vesicles, scaling); urticaria (hives); Quincke’s edema (swelling of the … Food Allergy: Examination
Various methods are used to diagnose food allergy: Skin tests Prick test (detection of type 1 allergies) – a drop of an allergen extract is applied to the patient’s skin and then a lancet is used to prick the skin about 1 mm; the result is then read after about 10 minutes Scratch test – … Food Allergy: Test and Diagnosis
Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of food allergy. Family history Is there a history of frequent gastrointestinal illness in your family? Social history Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints). Have you noticed any symptoms on the skin such as redness or blistering related to food intake? … Food Allergy: Medical History
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90). Food intolerances* due to enzymatic intolerances – intolerance due to pathophysiologic disorders such as enzyme deficiency (fructokinase, lactase). Bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine (if necessary, H2 breath test for glucose); the small intestine abkterielle overgrowth (as a cause of food intolerance) should be excluded with positive H2 breath … Food Allergy: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis
General measures When fever occurs (in children; frequency: very rare): Bed rest and physical rest (even with only a slight fever). Fever below 38.5 °C does not necessarily need to be treated! (Exceptions: children who tend to febrile convulsions). After the fever still a fever-free day of rest, if necessary longer (mainly bed rest and … Food Allergy: Therapy
