[45] Food Allergy Flashcards

1
Q

What are food allergies?

A

An abnormal immunological response to food

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2
Q

What happens in food allergy?

A

There is a pathological immune response to a specific food protein

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3
Q

What antibody is the usual mediator for an allergic reaction to food?

A

IgE

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4
Q

What is a primary food allergy?

A

Where children react on first exposure

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5
Q

Are food allergies most commonly primary or secondary?

A

Primary

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6
Q

What are secondary food allergies most commonly associated with?

A

Cross-reactivity between proteins on fresh fruit/veg/nuts and those in pollen

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7
Q

What do non-IgE mediated food allergies invovle?

A

GI disturbance, typically hours after ingestion

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8
Q

What is a non-immunological hypersensitivity to food called?

A

Intolerance

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9
Q

What are the most common allergies in infants?

A
  • Milk
  • Egg
  • Peanut
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10
Q

What are the most common allergies in older children?

A
  • Peanut
  • Tree nut
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
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11
Q

What are the risk factors for developing food allergies?

A
  • Family history
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Obesity
  • Hygiene hypothesis
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12
Q

What are the symptoms of IgE mediated food allergies?

A
  • Urticaria
  • Facial swelling
  • Anaphylaxis
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13
Q

When do symptoms of IgE mediated allergic reactions to food occur?

A

10-15 minutes after ingestion

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14
Q

What are the symptoms of non-IgE mediated food allergies?

A
  • Diarrhoea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Faltering growth
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15
Q

What is the gold standard investigation for both IgE and non-IgE mediated food allergies?

A

Double blinded placebo-controlled food challenge

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16
Q

What happens in a double blinded placebo-controlled food challenge?

A

The child is given increasing amounts of food or placebo and should be performed in hospital with full resuscitation available

17
Q

What other tests can be used to check for IgE mediated food allergies?

A
  • Skin prick test

- Measurement of specific IgE antibodies in blood

18
Q

What can be used to look for non-IgE mediated food allergies?

A

Endocsopy and intestinal biopsy

19
Q

How can food allergy be managed?

A
  • Avoid relevant foods
  • Advice from dietician
  • Written management plan for reaction
  • Antihistamines for mild reactions
  • IM adrenaline for severe reactions
20
Q

What are the complications of food allergies?

A
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Blood in stools (non-IgE mediated)
  • Food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome (non-IgE mediated)