How to treat food allergies

At present, there is no plan in the global medical community that can completely cure food allergy. The clinically recognized core treatment logic is "prioritize allergen avoidance + rapid intervention for acute attacks." Only some specific allergens and qualified people who meet the indications can reduce the degree of sensitivity and reduce the risk of attacks through standardized desensitization treatment.

To put it simply, food allergy means that your immune system treats food that is originally harmless to the body as invading viruses and bacteria. When exposed to it, it will sound the highest level of alarm. It may release histamine, causing itchy skin, rashes, and diarrhea, or it may cause dilation of blood vessels throughout the body and edema of the throat, which can kill you in minutes. Last week, I just received a 3-year-old patient in the outpatient clinic. The mother didn’t know that the child was allergic to eggs, so she fed him half a piece of steamed egg. Within five minutes, the child’s face was covered with wheals, and he was holding his neck and could not speak. When he was brought to the hospital, his blood oxygen had dropped, and he was rescued by an emergency injection of epinephrine. This is really not an alarmist statement.

When it comes to the treatment of acute attacks, many people’s first reaction is to take anti-allergic drugs such as loratadine. This actually depends on the situation. If it is just itchy skin, rash, and slight gastrointestinal discomfort, taking antihistamines can quickly relieve it. But if you have a tight throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and inability to stand, You must first take an epinephrine pen, then take medicine and call 120. It takes at least ten minutes for the antihistamines to take effect. If your throat is really edematous, it may be too late for the medicine to take effect. People with a history of severe allergies are best to carry an epinephrine pen prescribed by a doctor with them. Don't be too troublesome. It can really save lives in critical moments.

Daily prevention and control is actually more important than treatment after an attack. First go to a regular hospital for an allergen test to find out what you are allergic to. When buying processed foods, check the ingredient list. Common allergens such as nuts, milk, eggs, and seafood will be marked separately on regular products to remind you. Don’t believe what is said on the Internet that “you can tolerate it by eating small amounts many times”. This statement is actually half right and half wrong. There are indeed studies proving that for infants and young children who have not been diagnosed with allergies, early introduction of small doses of complementary foods such as milk and eggs can reduce the probability of subsequent allergies. However, it has been For people who are clearly allergic, if they blindly try small doses at home, it is very likely to induce severe allergies. Not long ago, there was a girl in her 20s who was allergic to cashew nuts. I heard a blogger said that licking a few cashew nuts every day can desensitize her, and she was admitted to the ICU on the third day after licking it. I really can't do this.

As for the most frequently asked question, "Can it be desensitized and eliminated?", now allergen-specific immunotherapy is indeed the closest to a "radical cure" solution. Simply put, it starts to expose you to allergens at a small dose, and slowly allows your immune system to "recognize" that this thing is not a bad guy and stop over-attacking it. Currently, domestic oral desensitization preparations for peanuts and milk are already undergoing clinical trials. After nearly 60% of subjects have completed the treatment, even if they accidentally eat a small amount of allergens, they will not have an attack, but it is not It is suitable for everyone. For example, people with severe asthma and immunodeficiency cannot do it. About 30% of people do not see significant improvement after treatment. Moreover, the entire course of treatment takes 2 to 3 years and requires going to the hospital every week. The cost is not low. Therefore, many patients weigh it and feel that it is easier to avoid food. Some people are allergic to almost ubiquitous allergens such as milk and wheat.

Many people also ask whether probiotics can cure allergies. This is still highly controversial in the academic community. Some studies have shown that specific probiotic strains can regulate immunity and reduce the frequency of allergic attacks. However, there is also a large amount of clinical data proving that there is no obvious effect. There is no unified conclusion yet. If someone tells you that taking a certain probiotic can completely cure food allergies, it is 100% false. Don’t believe it.

To put it bluntly, there is no permanent way to deal with food allergies. It is always right to be safe. If you really want to try a new treatment method, you must first seek an evaluation from an allergist at a regular hospital. Don't just try it blindly. You should take more care of your body.