Ingestion Induced Asthma

Symptoms of Ingestion Induced Asthma

Symptoms of a food allergy and asthma are hives, nausea, rash, diarrhea, or vomiting. In addition to this, asthma symptoms include: shortness of breath and wheezing. Some people may experience anaphylaxis in addition to asthma symptoms.

Anaphylaxis and an asthma attack tend to have the same symptoms. It may begin to be very difficult to breathe. It is important to understand the difference between the two. If you believe it is an asthma attack, and your usual medications are not helping your symptoms, then it is likely anaphylaxis. In these cases, it is best to use a dose of epinephrine and be seen by your physician immediately.

Causes of Ingestion Induced Asthma

While food-induced asthma episodes are very uncommon, they do happen on occasion. The most common foods that can trigger an attack are: shellfish, fish, wheat, milk, eggs, peanuts, soy and wheat. Food preservatives can also be the cause of asthma attacks, such as those found in dried fruits, bottled lemon juice, or wine. Typically a reaction is due to an allergy to sulfites, which is used in preservatives. A reaction to food will typically occur within two hours of ingesting the food. In most cases though, the reaction will occur within minutes of eating something, however, it is not impossible for the reaction to happen up to six hours later.

In most cases, this is also caused by a family history of allergic asthma. If you have hay fever or other allergies, then you are also at a higher risk of getting asthma.

Treatments of Ingestion Induced Asthma

The first step of treatment is to know what foods trigger a reaction. Once you know what foods are causing the trigger, then you will want to avoid the food completely. Avoiding the trigger food is the best option, but in case of emergency, it is best to keep an epinephrine or rescue inhalers with you at all times. If you have food-induced asthma, then your physician will recommend medications, long-term and rescue to control symptoms and prevent attacks from occurring. You must continue to take long-term medications to keep both allergies and asthma under control.

Your physician may also recommend allergy shots in an effort to desensitize your body to the allergen. Allergy shots may be beneficial as they will help to treat allergic reactions and will also decrease asthma symptoms.

A leukotriene modifier may also be used to treat allergy and asthma symptoms. This is a daily medication that controls the immune systems chemical release. If the allergic reaction does not occur, then it is likely that the asthma reactions will not occur too.

Anti-immunoglobulin E therapy is used to interfere with the IgE when it comes into contact with the body. This medication helps to prevent allergic reactions and helps to avoid asthma reactions.

Once you have identified what your food allergy is and the reactions that will take place, then your physician will help to create an asthma action plan or allergy action plan with you.