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Friday, 6 May 2011

Food Allergy -- meat:


Food Allergy -- meat: Introduction
Meat Allergies in general, are fairly uncommon. However reactions can range from anaphylactic to digestive issues.Avoiding certain meats may be more complicated if you are extremely sensitive, for instance, even certified vegan products can be made on the same line as meat and milk products. People who avoid meat, for religious reasons, often have certification measures that are more restrictive.For Jews not eating pork is the most observed kosher practice. Muslims consider eating products derived from pork violation of their dietary laws as well. Muslims mark products that comply with their dietary laws as Halaal meaning “lawful” or “permissible”. The foods that meet Jewish dietary laws have Kosher labeling. Both are “pork free” with almost no cross contamination issues with pork.
 Food Allergy -- meat: A meat allergy is an adverse reaction by the body's immune system to meat. This type of allergy is rare and severe reactions are even rarer. The body's immune system produces immunoglobulin E (IgE - an antibody) and histamine in response to contact with the allergen.
Meat allergy

People with a meat allergy might react to beef, mutton, pork or chicken. Sometimes people who are allergic to one type of meat or poultry might also react to other types. Cooking destroys some of the allergens in meat, but some people will still react to cooked meat.


Processed meats, such as frankfurters, luncheon meats and pates, sometimes contain other ingredients, particularly milk products, as emulsifiers or flavour enhancers. So it's possible for someone who is allergic to milk to react to a meat product because it contains milk. For example, milk is sometimes used in chicken nuggets to stick the breadcrumbs to the chicken pieces.
Symptoms of Food Allergy -- meat

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Food Allergy -- meat includes the 31 symptoms listed below:

    * Runny nose
    * Sinusitis
    * Cough
    * Hives
    * Asthma
    * Lip swelling
    * Tongue swelling
    * Hoarseness
    * Throat swelling
    * Nausea
    * Vomiting
    * Diarrhea
    * Itching
    * Sneezing
    * Wheezing
    * Headache
    * Sinus pain
    * Itchy mouth
    * Tingling mouth
    * Breathing problems
    * Fatigue
    * Redness around lips
    * Constipation
    * Swallowing problems
    * Abdominal pain
    * Eczema
    * Disturbed sleep
    * Joint pain
    * Frequent infections
    * Insomnia
    * Depression

Treatment List for Food Allergy -- meat

The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Food Allergy -- meat includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

    * Avoid contact with the allergen, adrenaline injection if anaphylactic reaction occurs, antihistamines, bronchodilators for asthmatic symptoms
    * The central concept of management of food allergy is allergen avoidance. When this is not possible or inadvertent allergen exposure occurs, treatment depends on the nature and severity of the reaction. Treatments include:
          o Dietary modification and allergen avoidance - with education of children, parents and carers.
          o No treatment - if symptoms are mild and self-limiting
          o Antihistamines - Useful for allergic rhinitis and some allergy mediated skin conditions. Not helpful in asthma except for mild seasonal asthma where allergy may be a precipitant.
          o Nasal sprays - including topical steroids and antihistamines used for allergic rhinitis
          o Eyedrops - ketorolac, levocabastine, ketotifen, olapatadine, for allergic conjunctivitis
          o Asthma medications such as inhaled beta agonists and inhaled corticosteroids - used to treat asthma which may have allergy as a contributing factor.
          o Oral steroids - used in short courses for moderate allergic reactions especially with asthma symptoms or skin conditions
          o Desensitisation - evidence is mixed, and efficacy dependant or the type of allergy and specific type of reaction
          o EpiPen - adrenaline delivery device used as first line treatment prior to hospital care for those who have proven anaphylaxis as a result of specific food allergies
          o Anaphylaxis is a severe life threatening allergic response. Treatment includes:
                + Hospitalisation
                + IM adrenaline
                + High flow oxygen
                + Intravenous fluids
                + Intravenous and oral steroids
                + Nebulised bronchodilators
                + Nebulised adrenaline for upper airways obstruction
             

            Can a Tick Bite Cause a Meat Allergy?

Immunologists at Royal North Shore Hospital in Australia noted that some of their patients who developed meat allergies had been bitten by a tick and had experienced a more severe reaction to the bite than what is typically seen. A significant number had developed severe symptoms including difficulty breathing or throat swelling, which is not usually seen with a garden-variety tick bite.


            After recovering from their tick bite, some of these patients went on to develop severe allergic symptoms when they ate red meat such as intense itching, hives, and even more serious allergic reactions such as difficulty breathing. This was surprising since meat allergies are relatively uncommon compared to other food allergies - and these people had been able to eat red meat before their tick bite. That's when doctors started suspecting tick bites were playing a role in their meat allergies.


            Meat Allergies and Tick Bites: How Does a Tick Bite Cause an Allergy to Meat?
  Researchers believe that the body produces a special antibody in response to a tick bite that can trigger meat allergies in certain individuals. This antibody binds to a sugar in meat called alpha-galactosidase. When it does, histamine is released which triggers the allergic response to meat.
            These meat allergies differ somewhat from typical food allergies. With most food allergies, symptoms develop within minutes after eating the offending food, but people with meat allergies related to tick bites usually don't experience symptoms until three or more hours after eating red meat. The reaction is typically severe with difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, and, sometimes, loss of consciousness. Fortunately, not everyone develops meat allergies after a tick bite. There may be a genetic susceptibility that causes some people to develop a meat allergy after a tick bite since scientists have observed that people with certain blood types are more likely to have this problem.



            Tick Bite Causes Meat Allergy
            Reporter: Dhomonique Ricks l Videographer: Sally Goin

            Bedford County, Va - What do red meat and tick bites have in common? When combined, they can cause allergic reactions for some people. This meat allergy caused by tick bites can, in some cases be potentially life threatening.

            Doctor's say the allergy is poorly understood.  It is a carbohydrate or sugar molecule which is present on a variety of red meat. It's unique because most allergens are proteins. It takes awhile for symptoms to develop. Allergy Partners of Lynchburg says normally the body reacts to an allergen instantly. This allergy, however, takes four to eight hours to kick in.

            Bedford County resident, Barry Slaughter will not get to enjoy his deer steaks anymore.

            "Sad I can't eat it," said Slaughter.

            He just found out through blood work Monday, they and other red meats are the cause of more than a dozen allergic reactions he has had in the past.

            "Every square inch of my body had hives. I never ever experienced anything like that," said Slaughter.

            Slaughter says that was not his worst reaction. Two years ago, he almost died.

            "I lost my color vision. Virtually went blind. I couldn't stand up," said Slaughter. "I became paralyzed on the floor in the bathroom and I couldn't get up to get the phone which we have in the bathroom."

            Slaughter was home alone. His wife was out of town. He says he could barely breathe and went in and out of consciousness.

            "I tried to get up and it was impossible," said Slaughter.

            He had to sit and wait five hours until his body began to function again. According to allergists, his case is extreme. Allergy Partners of Lynchburg have seen a lot of cases lately.

            "As many as 10 in a week," said Dr. Joey Lane, Allergy Partners of Lynchburg.

            Dr. Lane says the disease is caused by the Lone Star tick, which is prevalent in the Commonwealth. A recent tick bite, combined with beef, pork, lamb, deer meet, or bison can cause a strong reaction.

            "They'll develop itching, or hives, or welts, followed by swelling of the lips, tongue. Some people will also have trouble breathing," said Dr. Lane.

            He says the allergy is still poorly understood but allergists are learning more about it every day. Dr. Lane says he is not aware of any fatalities.

            The only treatment is to avoid red meat. Allergy Partners of Lynchburg will be a study site for upcoming clinical trials by University of Virginia specialists.


   

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