Treatment
The most important form of therapy consists of avoiding the allergen. Therefore, persons with hazelnut allergy should completely avoid the consumption of hazelnuts. Since many people are allergic to raw hazelnuts, but tolerate heated hazelnuts (for example after cooking or baking), the processing of hazelnuts must be taken into account.
In the case of mild symptoms, it is often advisable to wait and see, if necessary with additional drug therapy.For example, antihistamines can be used against histamine (an inflammatory substance that is released upon contact with the hazelnut). Cetirizine is also effective against allergies. Against strong itching can be used to the Fenistil.
For more severe symptoms, cortisone can also be used in acute therapy. In case of severe allergic reactions as a result of a hazelnut allergy, emergency therapy may have to be started. This may include a high dose of cortisone and the emergency administration of adrenaline.
This is contained, for example, in the anaphylaxis emergency set in the form of the so-called epipen. In an emergency, this can be given directly into the thigh and can be life-saving in the acute phase. In the event of anaphylactic shock, an emergency doctor must be called who can provide the affected person with oxygen in an emergency or keep the airways open with an intubation.
Duration Prognosis
Hazelnut allergy is a permanent disease. Therefore, the consumption of allergy-causing hazelnuts must be avoided for life. The prognosis depends on how well this hazelnut leave is adhered to.
Those who permanently abstain from hazelnuts have no other restrictions to expect. However, consumption (even accidental consumption) can lead to life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, in cases of severe allergies. A good education as well as the possession and consequent carrying of an emergency kit are therefore vital for severe allergy sufferers under certain circumstances and can significantly determine the prognosis.
Course of disease
The course of the disease can vary greatly depending on the severity of the hazelnut allergy. The first allergic reaction occurs in allergies such as hazelnut allergy only after the second contact with the allergen. The allergic reaction can take different courses from an itching in the mouth that lasts for a few minutes to a life-threatening anaphylactic shock.
In the course of life a hazelnut allergy often does not change very much. Especially people who suffer from a pronounced hazelnut allergy should absolutely avoid eating hazelnuts for the rest of their lives. Persons who are only slightly affected by the hazelnut allergy may experience that the allergy grows in the course of life.
Others become more and more sensitive to the allergen in the long run and have to do without hazelnuts at some point. Whoever is allergic to hazelnuts, however, can develop so-called cross-allergies. Allergy sufferers to hazelnuts are often allergic to other substances such as pollen and fruit (cherry, apple, etc.) or develop further allergies in the course of their lives.
