ALLERGIES TO FOOD – DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD
Unfortunately, the history is not always accurate as we all eat many different types of food and may be confused.
Sometimes it takes several episodes of an allergic manifestation such as hives before the penny drops and we associate the symptoms with a particular food. If the allergy is due to a breakdown substance, then we may not be able to associate the symptoms with the cause.
Chronic allergic reactions such as eczema present even more difficulties. The presence of an allergen may not be suspected although the allergy itself is known.
I remember one of my young patients who was extremely sensitive to eggs. He developed a severe attack of asthma when his mother washed his hair using a shampoo which contained egg.
It is not only food itself which may cause the trouble. Many substances are added to foods to color or prevent deterioration.
Dr Ben Feingold postulated the theory that substances occurring naturally in food or added to it may cause an allergic-type reaction and lead to hyperactivity in children. This condition is now more commonly known as minimal brain dysfunction.
*188/71/1*
