A common form of allergy that affects millions of people globally is that of allergies to tree nuts. This is characterized by extreme sensitivity to products created in part with tree nuts that generates an extreme reaction in a person’s immune system. The resulting physical symptoms from this hypersensitivity can be mild or extreme and can hospitalize or cause death. Examples of tree nuts are walnuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios, chestnuts, pecans, cashews, macadamia nuts, pine nuts and hazelnuts. There are rare instances of allergies of one person to many if not all forms of nuts available and as a safety precaution they are advised to avoid any and all nuts available. For the majority though, this is not the issue even though some proteins in nuts to which one is allergic to is present in nuts to which they are not allergic to. Increased sensitization to any nuts will occur with prolonged exposure to the particular nut generating variations of allergic reactions from mild to extreme symptoms.
Those that have a mild form of allergy to nuts may react differently to the raw nut as opposed to the processed nuts as one can find in roasted nuts or the nut oil. Usually the proteins found in raw form of nut can produce a more severe physical reaction than the processed variants of the same nut. For those people who have been diagnosed with the more severe form of allergy to nuts, the condition known as anaphylaxis, the reaction to the ingestion of nuts is more immediate and severe. The resulting advice in light of this is to avoid any and all exposure to tree nuts and by products produced thereof owing to the heightened sensitivity and the dangers associated with it. As a means to understand exactly what form of allergy that you have and the form of nuts that you’re are prone to allergic reaction, it is highly recommended to have allergy tests at a certified allergy clinic to assess your situation and determine the best course of immunotherapy treatment.
For children who have been diagnosed with a tree nut allergy, the allergy itself will dissipate with age in about nine percent of cases determined; however it is generally understood to be a symptom that carries on throughout life for the remainder of the population.
Treatment for this condition is the obvious elimination of any and all nuts and their by products from the diet of those diagnosed however a vigilant eye is cast through the usage of federally regulated identification of products that features inclusion of tree nut and peanut materials. Federal legislation within the United States such as the federal Food Allergen Labelling and Consumer Protection Act (or FALCPA) enforces appropriate labelling of foods and other products that contain nuts and by products thereof. Soaps and lotions are labelled that contain tree nut products and certain restaurants such as those with African and Asian varieties of foods are known for the possibility of cross contamination of foods with nut products – a careful eye must always be cast to where you’re eating over and above what you’re eating.
For those that suffer extreme effects of nut allergies resulting in the condition known as anaphylaxis, epinephrine is one course of emergency treatment and it is highly recommended to attend an emergency health facility as soon as possible.
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