There are a number of different ways to identify Food Allergies – each with differing rates of success and advantages/disadvantages. A lot of people complain that the Elimination Diet is “too hard” but in most cases it is the required course of action. We’ll be exploring all of the different identification methods in this upcoming series of posts. But first… an introduction to food allergies.

Food Intolerance vs Food Allergy

These two terms along with “Food Sensitivity” seem to be used interchangeably. In my opinion, Food Sensitivity covers both Food Intolerance & Food Allergy.

Food Allergy (for simplicity and for the purpose of this blog) means any adverse reaction to food where the immune system is involved. Allergens in food trigger antibodies etc etc.

Food Intolerance is any adverse reaction to food where the immune system involvement is unproven or allergy tests are negative. (Unfortunately for migraine sufferers, food intolerance and not necessarily an allergy has a big impact on migraine attacks and intensity. The bad news is a lot of doctors don’t regard Food Intolerance as a sound diagnosis.)

Some Known Food Allergies

• Peanut Allergy
• Nuts / Tree Nuts
• Shellfish
• Milk
• Eggs
• Soy
• Wheat
• Latex (food cross-reaction)

Some Identification Methods For Food Allergies

We’ll be going through some of these methods/topics relating to identifying food allergies (among others).

• Elimination Diet (everyone’s favorite)
• Skin Prick Tests
• Blood Tests
• Medical History
• Symptoms Reported For Food Allergies
• Things To Look For

Latex Allergy: What Is It?

It’s pretty self explanatory that Latex Allergy is an allergy to latex products and in particular natural rubber latex products. There are 2 types of Latex Allergies:

The first is called “Type I” and it is a potentially life threatening form of latex allergy. It is an immediate reaction to the constituents of the latex itself (proteins) and is generally acquired and worsens through repeated exposure to latex products. It is categorized by hives or asthma among other symptoms.

The second type is called “Type IV” and relates to people who have a somewhat delayed reaction to the chemicals used in the latex manufacturing process. This is a milder form of the allergy and tends to be categorized by red itchy skin, similar to dermatitis.

Symptoms of Latex Allergy

When you come into contact with latex, you could experience one or more of the following symptoms in a very short period of time:

• rash, itchy skin
• itchy eyes, nose
• coughing, sneezing
• asthma, breathing difficulties
• anaphylaxis and death in severe cases

Latex Allergy Symptom Treatment

1. Avoidance of the latex allergen is the most effective treatment. Don’t even think about using “safe latex” stuff, if you have an allergy stay away from all things latex. Use “non-latex” alternatives (see below).
2. Often, antihistamines or other allergy symptom suppressing medications are prescribed for those with severe latex allergies.
3. Awareness of cross allergies, especially with certain foods (see below)

Living With Latex Allergies

Just watch the case study video below to get a feel for how hard it is to live with a Latex Allergy.

For Individuals:

These are the top 2 human desires affected by latex allergies:

Food: If you get a tingling in your mouth when you eat certain raw fruits and vegetables, you may have a cross reaction food allergy as a result of your latex allergy. Information online points to these foods as some that are related to this Latex Food Allergy or Latex Fruit Syndrome: banana, pineapple, avocado, chestnut, kiwi fruit, mango, passionfruit, strawberry, and soy. (Don’t go eating a bunch of this stuff to “test” whether or not you have an allergy – see your doctor for skin testing on a wide range of foods.)

I’ve looked far and wide but unfortunately I couldn’t find any raw fruits/vegetables that have no cross reaction with latex allergy. If anyone hears of a method that allows Latex Allergy Sufferers to enjoy these raw fruits please DM me @AllergyCentral on twitter or leave a comment below so we can spread the word. I’d imagine things like genetically modifying the foods by removing the allergens, or perhaps even desensitization methods (is this feasible?) would be on the cards.

Sex: If you or your partner finds that something is burning down there every time you get intimate, it is worth checking out the condoms you are using. Use latex free condoms like these which are polyurethane based. (If there is something burning down there and you are NOT using condoms, then you should get that checked out as well!)

For Employers:

Employers need to be aware of latex allergies as there have been some cases where payouts have been given to latex allergy suffers in the order of $100,000′s of dollars. This is particularly important in industries that require constant wearing of gloves e.g. for food preparation or other hygenic reasons, such as for nurses in hospitals.

Latex Allergy (Type I) Case Study: Marion Ronee Daney

Click here to view the embedded video.

Buy Marion’s thoroughly researched book here: Latex Allergy Is Not My Friend

As she suggested, it pays to wear a Fashion Alert Medical Jewelry T-14 Latex Allergy Tag so that the people treating you know that you have a Latex Allergy.

Latex Allergy Resources

http://www.latexallergyinfo.com/ is a fantastic site and is founded by a latex allergy sufferer. The aim of this site is to educate the world about latex allergies. They also have a list of latex free restaurants, as well as contaminated ones, in the United States. This website states that (thankfully) the states of Arizona, Oregon and Rhode Island have banned the use of latex gloves from their food services industries.

The Pacific Northwest Foundation has published some great books on Latex Allergies: Latex Allergy Resource Guide & The Complete Guide to Latex Allergy

The Latex Allergy Support Group has published a DIRECTORY OF NON-MEDICAL LATEX-FREE PRODUCT ALTERNATIVES which is very useful to identify which products contain latex and what alternatives there are for use. It is a pdf file you can save from this link.

Another good case study of Kay’s young son’s latex allergy here.

Peanut Allergy is one of the most common and deadliest of the food allergies. The AAAAI states that it affects approximately 3 million Americans. Similarly, about 1.5% of children have an allergy to peanuts in Canada.

Peanut Allergy Symptoms

Initial symptoms of a Peanut Allergy can include a runny nose, itchy skin rash or swollen lips and tongue. If you are allergic to peanuts, symptoms can show up as quickly as a few seconds after being exposed to the tiniest trace. For example, a child can have an allergic reaction just being in close proximity to someone who has a peanut butter sandwich.

Symptoms can progress to sever swelling, difficulty in breathing and ultimately heart failure and death.

Peanut Allergy Cure?

Unfortunately like most allergies there is no cure. The best defense against a Peanut Allergy attack is prevention through strict avoidance of anything containing traces of peanuts. As it is a potentially deadly allergy, warnings are placed on all products that either contain peanuts or have been manufactured in factories that also process peanut products.

The cause of Peanut Allergies is not known. It is wise to take extra precautions for children who are born to families whose members are known to be allergic to peanuts. In such cases, peanut products should not be introduced until after 2-3 years of age as it is often difficult for a parent to quickly discover the cause of a crying child’s anguish. Less than 20% of children with a peanut allergy outgrow it, so it is a condition that has to be managed over time.

But there is hope for the future…

A recent article claims that Allergen-Free Peanuts are currently in development. Initial trials have reportedly shown no reaction among people with a Peanut Allergy and 100% deactivation of the allergens found in peanuts. Great news!

Handling An Allergic Reaction

Parents who have children that are allergic to peanuts should notify the child’s teachers, school nurse, friends and other parents of the condition to ensure that everyone is prepared in case the child has an anaphylactic shock.

Adrenaline or epinephrine injectors should be kept close by at all times in case of an allergic reaction. Both the child and its parents should be familiar with how to use them.

“Jude The Dude” is a nice little video that children should watch to learn how to manage their Peanut Allergy:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Peanut-Free Lunch Ideas For Children

• Canned fruit in juice
• Fresh fruit
• Fruit salads
• Rice/Pasta
• Canned fish
• Chicken/turkey/roast beef
• Hummus with pita bread
• Yoghurt

It is advisable to stay away from most Asian foods (eg some noodle dishes or satay) as they are often made using peanut oil.

Recommended Reading for Peanut Allergy in Children: The Peanut Butter Jam

Along with ear infections, Dog Skin Allergies are amongst the most common health problems in dogs. They are difficult to diagnose as symptoms can be common across many diseases.

Allergies need to be constantly managed. Most Allergies are seasonal and the inhalant type, such as tree pollen.

Skin Allergy Testing For Dogs

There are two types of testing that can be undertaken for dog skin allergies:-

• Blood Tests are taken to check for antibodies in the dog’s blood that have been triggered by Antigens.
• Intradermal Skin Testing is where a small amount of antigen is injected into an area of the dog’s skin and observed to determine whether it causes an Allergic Reaction. This is the most common form of testing and has a high success rate for identification of Dog Skin Allergies.

Alternatively, and more specifically if a Food Allergy is suspected, systematic elimination of items from a dog’s diet or environment may help uncover the underlying causes of the allergies.

Symptoms of Dog Skin Allergies

Generally, if a dog has an allergy it will be apparent through excessive itching and/or visual skin problems. Signs your dog has an allergy include:

• Chewing on its limbs
• Rubbing its face on the ground or carpet
• Mutiliated/red/sore skin
• Hair loss
• Nasal or eye discharge

Dog Skin Allergy Treatments

1. Avoidance – Keep your dog out of grassy fields (keep your lawn mowed short), keep your dog indoors during the pollen season, use humidifiers and keep pets away from you when you are cleaning an area and it is likely to stir a bit of dust (eg vaccuuming).
2. Topical Therapy - This involves using “external medications” such as shampoos, rinses and creams for Allergy Relief.
3. Antihistamines – Apparently these are only about 30% successful for dogs. It is usually recommended to include fatty acids such as Omega 3 in your dog’s diet when combined with this treatment to improve the chances of success.
4. Steroids – I wouldn’t recommend this option except as a last resort. The side effects are numerous.

It is important to note that each dog responds differently to different treatments, but it is wise to be aware Dog Skin Allergies so that you can ask the right questions of your vet and not blindly accept a recommendation of “drugs” to fix a problem that may be eliminated by natural or environmental means.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Further Reading: The Allergy Solution for Dogs: Natural and Conventional Therapies to Ease Discomfort and Enhance Your Dog’s Quality of Life (The Natural Vet)

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