1. Description Flashcards
Provide a short description of Food allergy and Atopic dermatitis
What is a food allergy?
A food allergy is an immune mediated reaction to a food. Common foods people suffer with allergies from include dairy products, peanuts and tree nuts, seafood, kiwi and sesame. Commonly reported symptoms include swelling of the lips, tongue, throat and face. Respiratory symptoms are the most dangerous.
Anaphylaxis is the severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction effecting the skin, respiratory tract, cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract. Requires adrenaline for treatment using an auto-injector.
This is one method of management but avoidance and precautions can also be taken to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. Food allergies are a unique chronic condition as the patient is generally in good health but is always at risk of a life threatening reaction. Management of a food allergy can pose as a burden and this may have an effect on quality of life and psychological distress.
The prevalence of food allergy is problematic when relying on self-report as Rona et al (2007) revealed, self-reported food allergies were significantly higher than actual food allergy prevalence.
What is atopic dermatitis?
- Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic or recurrent inflammatory skin disease involving interaction of genetic, environmental, and immunologic factors. It is characterised by acute flare ups of itchy dry patches of red/brown skin, especially at night (causing sleep disturbance).
- It effects 15-20% of children and is less common in adults, usually starts in early childhood.
- 50% of children with AD tend to develop other allergic symptoms in the first year of life and 85% in the first 5 years.
- The prevalence of AD varies across countries. The western diet, obesity, lack of exercise, cat ownership and genetic factors have all been found to increase the prevalence.
- Common triggers of AD include food allergens such as cows milk, house dust mites, pollen, pets, makeup, changes in temperature, soaps/creams, clothing fabrics and stress.
- Avoidance of triggers is recommended to manage AD. Treatments for AD include emollients and lotions, topical steroids (short term treatment as they cause skin thinning and acne, can be harmful to skin over long-term use), antihistamines and bandages/wet wraps have also been given to soothe irritation and itching symptoms.
What has our patient got?
Jenny has been diagnosed with a food allergy to egg, cows milk and peanuts and she also suffers with atopic dermatitis since she was a baby.
