Chicken Allergy: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Does your chicken feel nauseous after eating, a rash on the skin, or itching in the eyes? If so, you might experience chicken allergies. Although it is not classified as a general food allergy case such as seafood food allergies, in fact there are people who are allergic to eating chicken. So, what is chicken allergy? What causes chicken allergies? What are the characteristics of chicken allergies? What are chicken allergy medications?

What Is Chicken Allergy?

Chicken allergy is an atypical reaction of the immune system to the protein content found in chicken meat.

As a result of this error, chicken meat protein is considered by the body as something harmful so that the body needs to fight and then cause an allergic reaction.

Chicken meat allergies, as mentioned earlier, do not occur as much as seafood food allergies such as shrimp allergies . Symptoms of chicken allergy are also not too harmful to the body, even if it interferes with daily activities.

Causes of Chicken Allergy

Chicken allergic reactions are caused by a number of factors. The following are chicken allergens that need to be known:

1. Excessive Immune System Reactions

The cause of chicken allergies is an overreaction to the body's immune system when receiving chicken-contained proteins, as well as processed chicken meat.

When the body detects the danger that enters through these proteins, the immune system will automatically produce antibodies called immunoglobulin E to fight allergic trigger proteins (allergens). This antibody resistance activity has an impact on the appearance of allergic reactions.

2. Heredity Factors (Genetic)

The appearance of chicken meat allergic reactions is also caused by heredity (genetic). For example, your parents have food allergies (not necessarily chicken), so you will most likely also experience chicken allergies.

A little extra, if you think that people suffering from chicken allergies are definitely allergic to chicken eggs , then this assumption is completely untrue. However, it is not impossible for someone to experience both, which is referred to as bird-egg syndrome .

Characteristics and Symptoms of Chicken Allergy

Symptoms or characteristics of chicken allergies are actually similar to the symptoms of food allergies in general.

Chicken allergies can be characterized by symptoms that are mild, but do not rule out the possibility of sufferers experiencing symptoms that are severe enough to need special medical treatment.

Here are the symptoms of chicken allergy that you need to watch out for:

1. Skin Rash

A rash is a skin problem that can be a sign of an allergic reaction, including chicken meat allergy.

The skin that has a rash will be red with or without protrusion of the skin. In addition, the skin will itch, ranging from mild itching to severe itching.

Symptoms of chicken allergies can appear for a moment or a few days after consuming chicken meat or processed chicken food.

2. Swollen eyes

Symptoms of chicken allergy can also be swelling of the eye.

If after consuming chicken eyes become swollen, then you probably have chicken allergies, so it's good to avoid consuming chicken meat if you don't want to experience this annoying allergic reaction. In addition to swelling, chicken allergies may also feel itchy and runny eyes.

3. Swollen Lips

Not only the eyes, swelling due to allergic reactions to chicken can also occur in the mouth area, especially the lips.

Just like a rash on the skin, symptoms of one chicken allergy can occur for a moment or a few days after eating chicken, and the severity is different in each person.

4. Throat Pain and Itching

Chicken allergies are very likely to be marked by a sore and itchy throat, as well as an allergic reaction to shrimp.

A sore and itchy throat then affects other symptoms of coughing. Although it's not dangerous, don't hesitate to go to the doctor immediately so that further medical treatment can be done.

5. Digestive Disorders

Chicken allergic reactions for some people can even disrupt the digestive system around the stomach area. As a result, the stomach will experience a number of symptoms of chicken allergies such as cramps, nausea, vomiting, even diarrhea.

6. Anaphylaxis

Although it is less likely, allergic symptoms of eating chicken also include anaphylactic reactions, ie a condition that causes complications is quite severe and must be treated medically. Allergy symptoms of eating chicken anaphylaxis include:

Inflammation of the throat
Difficulty breathing
Blood pressure decreases
Heart beating fast
Blue toes
Fainted

Given that the symptoms of chicken allergies are quite heavy, do not delay to visit a doctor before the condition worsens. In addition, avoid eating chicken or food products made from chicken meat.

Chicken Allergy Diagnosis

To diagnose a chicken allergy, the doctor will perform a number of examination procedures or allergy tests to the patient. Starting from interviews (history taking), physical examination, and investigation.

1. History

The doctor will ask a number of questions to the patient, ranging from perceived complaints, allergy history (personal and family), history of medication, and dietary patterns.

2. Physical Examination

Next, the doctor will examine the patient's physical condition by noting a number of typical symptoms of egg allergies, such as rashes, swollen eyes, and blue on the toes.

3. Supporting Examination

To ascertain whether or not the patient is suffering from egg allergies, the doctor also needs to apply a method of investigation, which consists of:

Skin Prick Test

A needle prick test is a test of an allergic reaction by inserting a special needle that has been given an extract of an allergic trigger (allergen) in chicken into the patient's skin. After 15 minutes, the patient's skin indicated by chicken allergy will show react with the appearance of the rash and itching.

Patch Plaster Test (Patch Test)

Besides the needling test, there is also a similar allergic reaction test called patch plaster test or patch test. The difference, patch test is a test to find out allergic reactions using a special plaster medium that has been spiked with protein allergens.

The doctor will put the tape on a certain area of the skin, then the patient is asked to wear the tape for 48 hours without being exposed to water. After that, the tape will be reopened by the doctor. If the skin covered with plaster has a rash or itching, then the patient is tested positive for chicken meat allergies.

IgE Total

Especially for patients who are less or too sensitive to protein allergens, doctors will take the Total IgE method , which is by taking blood samples to analyze whether there is potential for blood to react to protein allergens.

Chicken Allergy Treatment

Treatment of chicken allergies is adjusted to the severity experienced. Generally, chicken allergies and other allergies are antihistamines. Antihistamine drugs are relievers of allergic symptoms such as itching.

Antihisatamine consists of two groups, namely the first generation ( clemastine, chlorphenamine, ketotifen, alimemazine, hydroxyzine), and the second generation ( loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine). First generation antihistamines have side effects in the form of drowsiness, while second generation antihistamines do not.

While for allergic symptoms such as swelling, corticosteroid drugs are commonly given to patients. In an anaphylactic reaction, the doctor will give an adrenaline injection.

In addition to chemical allergy drugs, you can try a number of natural chicken allergy drugs such as:

Honey
Lemon
Castor oil
Ginger

Consult this matter first with the doctor concerned before you take the chicken allergy medicine so that the dosage is not wrong.

Prevention of Chicken Allergy

Launching Web MD , allergies — including chicken allergies — cannot really be cured.

The use of chicken allergy drugs is more intended to relieve the symptoms of chicken allergy that appears, not then turn it off. Not eating chicken or processed chicken foods is the only way to prevent chicken allergies you can do. May be useful!