Question

Food Allergies - Know More About It!

Dr.Saibal Moitra · Accepted Answer

Every year, the emergency rooms at hospitals get flooded by cases of allergic reactions from food. According to a census, about 15 million Indians suffer from some kind of food allergy. The symptoms of food allergy may vary from itchy mouth to potentially fatal conditions like anaphylactic shock. Other symptoms of an allergic reaction can present themselves as difficulty in breathing, swelling of tongue, rashes and intestinal discomfort.

According to specialists, allergies to food can develop at any age, at any time. Hence, if you suspect a sudden allergic reaction to a food that you have consumed before without any problem, it is advised to consult your doctor.

Here is a list of the most common allergy-causing foods-

Milk: Milk is the most common food that children and infants are allergic to. Milk allergy must not be confused with lactose intolerance wherein a person faces difficulties in digesting the sugar present in milk. The two conditions are not related. Milk allergy is the hypersensitivity reaction that happens in response to certain proteins present in milk and can be potentially deadly. Most children are seen to outgrow their allergy to milk.
Wheat: It is a common misconception to confuse Celiac s disease with wheat allergy. Wheat allergy exclusively occurs due to the hypersensitivity to the protein present in wheat alone. In Celiac s disease, it is the gluten in the food they are hypersensitive to, which is also present in rye, barley and oats.
Soy: Soy is a very common allergic food and most children seem to outgrow it by the age of 10. Most of the time, soy allergy is not too severe and the symptoms presented are mostly mild. Although, cases of anaphylaxis in reaction to soy have been reported. Soy and soy protein are very common ingredients found in food, hence it is advised to check the ingredients present before consuming it.
Shellfish: This allergy usually does not go away and you are most likely to deal with all your life. Most people who experience allergies from shellfish are most likely to be hypersensitive to both crustaceans (lobsters, shrimps and crabs) and molluscs (mussels, oysters, scallops and clams). This type of allergy can become very intense and you must even avoid the steam produced from cooking shellfish. For some people, the mere contact with shellfish can trigger an allergic reaction.

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Food Allergies - Know More About It!

I cannot digest milk, but can digest curd or lassi. So I take one katori curd with lunch or a glass of cough. Is this good enough? Also I wanted to know if chapattis are better for me or rice or can I eat both? because I have a fat stomach compared to otherwise slim body.

I'm final years in clg and I'm not able to gain weight properly. It keeps fluctuating. Can you suggest me any diet food? I have allergy to milk and milk products bcz of that I suffer from acidity.

I am suffering lactose intolerant. I am planning to add lactase enzyme with milk. Will it work? Thank You.

Hi, doctor I am lactose intolerant can I drink cow milk or soy milk. Which is best. Please help.

Sir, since milk is the best of calcium but I am a milk intolerant so cannot take the same. Sir lassi prepared from curd provides the same amount of calcium as of milk. Further please tell me also whether lassi possess the same amount of calcium and nutritions which curd provides.

My 2 years old starts coughing after drinking milk. It started around a few days ago that whenever he drinks milk he starts coughing. Is it just fine with little kids or is there anything to worry about?

Muje lactos ki problem hai. Lactos lene se muje loss motion ho jate hai. please help.

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