Food Allergy
This page will help you prepare and act correctly to provide first aid for food allergies.
When does a food allergy occur?
A food allergy occurs when the immune system attacks certain food substances as harmful, even though they are not. Allergy symptoms appear within minutes or even seconds of consuming the food. Allergic reactions may vary in severity, some being mild and others severe, posing a threat to a person’s life (anaphylaxis).
The most common allergens include:
- Milk.
- Eggs.
- Peanuts.
- Tree nuts.
- Fish and shellfish.
- Some fruits and vegetables.
- What are the symptoms of a food allergy?
- When an affected person consumes foods they are allergic to, the body starts an allergic reaction, with symptoms ranging from severe to mild, including:
- Itching or irritation of the skin.
- Itching or tingling in the mouth.
- Skin rash.
- Swelling of the face, around the eyes, lips, tongue, and roof of the mouth.
- Cough.
- Abdominal pain..
Vomiting.
Difficulty or shortness of breath.
Wheezing.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Anaphylaxis.
- Hoarseness of voice.
- Diarrhea.
- Headache.
- Symptoms of anaphylaxis:
- Anaphylaxis symptoms can appear suddenly, escalate rapidly, and often resemble the aforementioned food allergy symptoms. However, they are far more severe and dangerous, such as:
Swelling of the tongue.
- Swelling and tightness in the throat, causing breathing difficulties.
- Wheezing.
Persistent cough.
Chest tightness.:
- Difficulty swallowing or speaking.
- Dizziness or fainting.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency; failure to administer appropriate treatment may lead to coma or death.
How to deal with a food allergy?
If you believe the person in front of you is experiencing an allergic reaction, call emergency services immediately.
Check if the affected person carries an adrenaline (epinephrine) injection, and help administer it immediately.
Assist the individual in lying on their back and elevating their legs.
If the person is vomiting, turn them onto one side.
If the person does not improve, administer another injection after 5 minutes.
- Emergency numbers in the Gulf countries:
- Oman: 9999.
Saudi Arabia: 997.
Kuwait: 112.
Qatar: 999.
- UAE: 998.
- Bahrain: 999.
- Yemen: 195.
- :
- .
الأسئلة الشائعة.
هل حساسية الطعام تحديداً من منتجات القمح هي السيلياك؟
حساسية الطعام تجاه منتجات القمح ليست مرض السيلياك.
حساسية الطعام من منتجات القمح هي ردة فعل تحسسية من البروتين المكون للقمح وتسبب أعراض تتضمن ردة فعل تحسسية في الجلد، الجهاز الهضمي والجهاز التنفسي.
بينما مرض السيلياك: هو مرض مناعي يحدث في الأمعاء الدقيقة نتيجة لمادة الجلوتين الموجودة في القمح. قد يتسبب الجلوتين ضرر أو التهاب في الأمعاء.
