Allergen f13

Peanut allergy - one of the most common in the world. At the same time, it is very dangerous, since more often than other allergens it causes the development of anaphylactic shock in patients. This is a type of contact food allergy that is caused by the peanut fruit, and can sometimes be triggered by oil. It is noteworthy that most of the symptoms do not differ from the typical signs of this disease.

An interesting fact is that in 2001, several leading American scientists conducted tests. This was a large-scale analysis of allergy deaths worldwide. The results were impressive - it turned out that almost two-thirds of all deaths began with a peanut allergy. Although harmless at first glance, it can lead to very serious consequences.

Causes and Risk Factors of Peanut Allergy

There is no specific reason that indicates the development of peanut sensitivity. There are only scientists' assumptions. One of them is that allergic reactions occur due to chemicals that the body releases. This process stimulates the entry of peanuts into the gastrointestinal tract. Histamine is the most dangerous of the elements; it has a negative effect on the circulatory system, gastrointestinal tract, breathing and vision.

Risk groups that come under attack:

Pregnant women due to weakened immunity.
People with reduced immunity from birth or due to certain diseases.
Children. A child's peanut allergy can be severe. Children most often react to the allergen. Lack of maturity of the alimentary tract is the main reason. The fact is that the stomach cannot identify peanuts and perceives them as a “hostile guest”.

Allergens

Groundnuts contain up to 32 different proteins, of which at least 18 have been identified as capable of causing an allergic reaction.

Among them:

Vicilin, seed storage protein. Heat-stable main allergen - makes up 12-16% of the total protein in peanuts.
Conglutin;
Profilin;
Albumen. Heat-resistant and does not collapse during digestion;
Lipid transfer protein.

Peanut allergenicity depends on the degree of heat treatment

Dry roasting (150-170°C) increases the allergenicity of groundnuts.

During the cooking process, the allergenicity decreases - presumably part of the protein passes into the water.

Peanut cross allergy

Peanut allergens can also be found in other foods. It is not the same substance, but very similar in structure. The chemical structure of these elements creates a cross-reaction, significantly increasing allergies. Peanuts are not a tree nut, as many people think. It always grows underground, so it belongs to the Legume family. It is from such foods that cross-reactions should be expected.

Important! Peanuts and lupines are the most popular cross-reaction and occur most often when these foods are consumed.

Products that cause cross-reaction:

Soy or peas.
Cherries, plums, sweet cherries, apricots, peaches, almonds.
Tomato or potato.
Banana.
Latex products, natural rubber.

Genetic predisposition

An interesting fact is that if a parent is allergic to peanuts, the chance that the disease will be passed on to their child is almost 50%. If both parents are intolerant to a given food product, then the chance increases to 90%. Genetic predisposition is a problem in modern medicine that is currently impossible to combat.

Chronic and somatic diseases

A simple illness can cause a peanut allergy to develop. Now the list includes almost all respiratory diseases, as well as colds, acute respiratory viral infections, and so on. All of them weaken the immune system.

Bad habits

Alcohol, smoking, drugs - all these things not only slowly kill our body, but can also cause serious diseases. They weaken the immune system, and it becomes an easy target for foreign bacteria. Bad habits can cause peanut allergies in adults .

Unfavorable environmental conditions

Can the environment influence the occurrence of peanut allergy? Certainly. Recent studies have shown that in places with poor ecology, the development of the disease occurs more often, approximately two or three times.

Other reasons

Peanut allergy in adults can begin with dysbiosis or other problems. The immune system is weakened at such times. The same goes for the digestive tract. Ulcers and gastritis increase the chance of developing allergies in the future. Very often, an allergen causes a reaction in infants. The newborn consumes mother's milk and does not choose food for himself.

If the mother is not on a diet and eats peanuts, an allergic reaction may occur. Always choose your foods carefully while breastfeeding. On the other hand, the baby must develop immunity from the early years of life. Therefore, it is important to include almost all available foods in your diet. The baby will receive only a small part of them, which will help him “prepare” his immunity for adult life.

Types of allergies

Peanuts are a highly allergenic product. It contains several types of proteins that can provoke a negative reaction from the immune system. The types and severity of symptoms depend on how the allergens enter the body.

Food allergy to peanuts

The likelihood of dangerous consequences depends on the method of cooking the nut. Raw peanuts, peeled, are considered less allergenic. Frying increases the risk of allergies by 2-3 times. During cooking, some of the harmful substances are destroyed. Allergy sufferers should exercise caution when choosing confectionery and vegetarian foods. These products may contain peanuts.

Peanut allergy.

Contact

Unpleasant symptoms occur when touching the bean or using cosmetics made from it. Some types of soap, shampoos and scrubs are dangerous.

Oral

You need to pay attention not only to the composition of the products, but also to the components contained in toothpastes or rinses. An oral allergic reaction is manifested by itching in the mouth, swelling of the tongue, throat, and lips. The syndrome is characterized by rapid development.

Pseudoallergy

The body reacts negatively to consuming excessive amounts of the product. This condition is called pseudoallergy. It is not associated with dysfunction of the immune system. The symptoms are similar to those of the true form of the disease.

Pseudo-allergy is caused by improper functioning of the stomach and intestines, which cannot digest large quantities of the same type of proteins. In this case, there is no need to exclude peanuts from your diet. It is recommended to limit the amount of nuts you consume.

Cross

The reason for cross-allergy lies in the content of proteins of the same type in other products. At the same time, the immune system reacts negatively to anything that is similar in composition to peanuts. Caution is exercised when consuming legumes, tomatoes, potatoes, cherries, peaches, and apricots.

Peanut Allergy Symptoms

The symptoms of a peanut allergy can be quite broad. It all starts with:

Rash, skin redness and swelling.
Then itching and tingling in the throat begins.
Diarrhea is the third sign on the list.
Added to this are stomach pains.
Nausea, vomiting.
Breathing may become difficult and hoarse.
Watery eyes.
In rare cases, nasal stuffiness.

Important! Anaphylactic shock is very rare, but can be fatal. If such a process begins, call doctors immediately.

But how can you tell if a person has anaphylaxis?

The pressure drops sharply.
The throat swells until it is completely impossible to inhale air.
Tachycardia (strong heartbeat) often begins.
My head is spinning.
The patient may faint easily.

Symptoms

Everyone's symptoms are different. The reaction may be immediate or appear within 2 to 3 hours. There was a direct dependence on health status, lifestyle, and place of residence. Scientists have proven that peanut allergy is a disease, not an epidemic. Main symptoms:

itchy skin rashes;
runny nose;
cough;
redness of the mucous membranes;
swelling;
vomiting, diarrhea.

Typical manifestations

A negative reaction of the body associated with food consumption is a disease. Peanut allergies are no exception. Allergists divide symptoms of various food rejections into typical and latent types.

Typical manifestations are similar to those of other diseases:

runny nose, sneezing accompanies colds, flu;
burning in the throat, hoarse breathing reminiscent of the onset of a sore throat;
red, inflamed eyes, swollen eyelids are mistaken for conjunctivitis;
vomiting and diarrhea occur due to poisoning.

Paying attention to your health and taking advice from doctors will help you choose the right treatment.

Hidden manifestations

Such manifestations are called food intolerance. This disease is specific. 2 - 3 nuts will not cause a negative reaction. An increase in consumption will lead to intestinal disorders, headaches, and a nervous breakdown.

It is difficult to make a diagnosis with hidden symptoms. The only way is to keep a food diary. An adult or the child’s parents write down information about all the food eaten and note the negative consequences. A summary of the facts will help the attending physician correctly prescribe treatment.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of allergies can only be carried out in a hospital. A specialist is assigned to the patient, who, after communication, will create a picture of the disease. Daily diet, first eating peanuts - all this is very important for future research and results. A food diary is a great idea that you will most likely be asked to keep. All food consumed should be recorded there.

It is also necessary to conduct several tests in the laboratory. These are skin tests as well as a blood test to detect antibodies. Only this approach will allow you to detect the allergen in your body. Symptoms of a peanut allergy – each of them should be reported to a specialist. After studying all the results described above, the doctor will be able to provide you with a detailed answer on what to do next.

Manifestations

Peanut allergy symptoms in adults can vary widely. Clinical manifestations appear immediately after eating the nut or within several hours. Symptoms vary in severity in different people.

If the reaction occurs in a mild form, then some time after contact with the allergen the person suffers from:

rashes on the surface of the skin and itching;
feelings of nasal congestion, constant sneezing;
redness of the eyes, swelling and itching of the eyelids;
distension and then numbness of the tongue and palate;
burning and itching in the oral cavity;
colic in the abdomen;
swelling of the oral mucosa;
bowel problems such as constipation or diarrhea;
vomiting.

In severe cases, anaphylactic shock develops. This is an acute and life-threatening allergic reaction. At the same time, blood pressure decreases, dizziness occurs, and loss of consciousness occurs. If help is not provided, death can occur within an hour. The following symptoms also indicate the development of anaphylactic shock:

Hands are covered with a small rash. This occurs within a short time after eating peanuts.
There is a strong burning and itching sensation in the throat and mouth.
After this, vomiting begins and loose stools appear.
The entire skin gradually turns red and becomes very itchy, covered in blistering-like rashes.

In addition to these signs, Quincke's edema may develop, in which there is a noticeable increase in the size of the lips, cheeks, eyelids and mucous membranes. When swelling spreads to the larynx:

breathing becomes very difficult and becomes noisy;
hoarseness and barking cough appear;
At first the face turns red, then suddenly turns pale.

In the absence of timely assistance, a coma develops and the likelihood of death is very high.

Treatment

If you have been diagnosed with a sensitivity to peanut allergens, you should take the following steps:

Go on a diet. Refusal of peanuts and dishes that contain them. Americans love peanut butter very much; in this case, it is contraindicated.
Use antihistamines, but only if your doctor prescribes them.
You need to see an allergist. Only this specialist will be able to give you a complete answer and draw up a treatment plan.

Important! The difference with a peanut allergy is that you need to avoid all products from the legume family. There are no exceptions, even if the symptoms are very mild.

Be sure to keep in mind that beans are included in creams and scrubs that are used for the body. Sometimes this applies to shower gels or shampoos, perfumes. All these funds should be thrown away or given to friends. If you have a sensitivity to peanuts, there is no other way.

Treatment of pathology

Therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms and removing allergens from the body. The following tools are used for this:

Antihistamines. New generation medications (Zyrtec, Fenistil) quickly eliminate the signs of the disease without causing drowsiness.
Hormonal ointments (Advantan, Sinaf) eliminate skin rashes and itching. Ointments are used in short courses.
Hormonal drugs for injection (Dexamethasone, Prednisolone) are prescribed for severe allergic reactions.

Prevention

A peanut allergy can cause serious complications in the future. So that they do not interfere with your life, you need to carefully study the entire composition of the dishes when you decide to dine out of home. Restaurants, cafes and other establishments - create a habit of checking the ingredients of everything in the world. Surprisingly, even the simplest dishes can be cooked with peanut oil, which can cause serious complications.

Be sure to carry a medical bracelet with you that detects food allergens. You can buy one at a pharmacy or specialty equipment stores. Also try to carry antihistamines like Suprastin with you if you experience sudden allergic attacks at any time. Well, always exclude from your diet dishes with:

Peanut butter.
Nut mixtures.
Nut sauces.
Asian food.
Marzipan.
Peanut paste.
Chocolates with nuts or ice cream.
Breakfast mixes.
Muesli.

Causes

Allergies can occur not only to this nut itself, but also to food products containing it. The main reason for intolerance to this nut is that the immune system reacts in such a specific way to the intake of peanut components into the body, releasing antibodies to them into the blood.

Allergy symptoms develop under the influence of inflammatory mediators.

There are cases when a negative reaction to peanuts occurs not only when it is ingested with food, but even when its smell enters the nasal mucosa along with the inhaled air.

There are a number of factors that can trigger this type of allergy.

These include: