Chocolate Allergy Threatens Life? These Symptoms & Treatment
Do you like chocolate? This one food is liked by almost all people because it tastes delicious, it can also have a happy effect. But for a handful of people, chocolate actually produces an allergic reaction. So, what is chocolate allergy? What are the causes of chocolate allergies? What are the symptoms of chocolate allergies? Is it true that chocolate allergies can cause death?
Just like other food allergies, chocolate allergies can appear for a moment or a few hours after people consume chocolate or processed chocolate products such as cakes, bread, and chocolate milk. The difference depends on the response of each person's immune system.
Chocolate allergy is actually not 100 percent caused by the content of chocolate beans or powder itself, but also because of a number of other additives such as beans, milk, caffeine, gluten and emulsions such as soy lecithin. In fact, it could be an allergic reaction experienced after eating chocolate is not precisely because of the chocolate, but other ingredients.
The following are symptoms of chocolate allergies that you need to know and be aware of.
To determine whether you have a chocolate allergy or not, it's best to immediately see a doctor for further examination.
Symptoms of chocolate allergy in the form of a headache can disappear within a few minutes, but if within a matter of hours or days the head still hurts, immediately visit a doctor for further examination and medical treatment.
Anaphylactic shock in patients with brown allergies is generally in the form of shortness of breath caused by swelling in the throat which inhibits air circulation from the outside to the lungs. If it is not immediately treated, it is not impossible that the patient will experience respiratory failure and die.
1. History
History or interview is the procedure for diagnosing chocolate allergy that will be first performed.
The doctor will ask the patient for information about complaints, allergy history (personal and family), history of drug use, and dietary patterns. After the data has been collected, the doctor will give the initial conclusion (hypothesis) as the basis for the next examination procedure.
2. Physical Examination
Furthermore, the patient will be examined for physical condition by a doctor by noting a number of common symptoms of brown allergies, such as red and swollen spots on the eyes and lips.
3. Supporting Examination
To ensure that if the patient really does have allergies to chocolate, the investigation will be enforced.
Skin Prick Test
The needling test or skin prick test is a test to find out the allergic reaction that is done by inserting a needle that has been given an allergic trigger (allergen) on the chocolate to the patient's skin. If the patient's skin arises patches or itching, it is almost certain if an allergic patient eats chocolate and is advised to avoid these foods.
Patch Plaster Test (Patch Test)
In practice, patch plaster tests or patch tests have no significant difference with needling tests. Only, the medium used is not the same, namely patch test using plaster that has been given chocolate allergen extract. In addition, if the needling test results are known after 15 minutes, the plaster patch test takes 48 hours until the results come out.
IgE Total
In cases where the patient's skin is less or too sensitive to allergens, the doctor will take the method of diagnosis of total IgE chocolate allergy , which is by taking a patient's blood sample and then mixed with allergen extract and analyzed, whether an allergic reaction occurs.
Antihistamines consist of two groups, namely first generation antihistamines ( clemastine, chlorphenamine, ketotifen, alimemazine, hydroxyzine), and second generation antihistamines ( loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine).
Meanwhile, corticosteroid drugs will be given to chocolate allergic patients who experience symptoms of swelling. For symptoms of anaphylexic shock, the doctor will give an adrenaline injection to relieve this type of allergic reaction.
What Is Chocolate Allergy?
Chocolate allergy is a type of allergy that is actually rare, nor is it fully allergic reactions caused by cocoa beans themselves. A number of other additives found in chocolate food products, such as nuts, milk, caffeine, gluten, and others are also suspected to be the trigger for brown allergic reactions.Just like other food allergies, chocolate allergies can appear for a moment or a few hours after people consume chocolate or processed chocolate products such as cakes, bread, and chocolate milk. The difference depends on the response of each person's immune system.
Causes of Chocolate Allergy
Broadly speaking, the causes of chocolate allergies are atypical reactions of the immune system to substances contained in cocoa (cocoa). As a result, the body signals the substance as a dangerous threat so that automatically, antibodies will be formed to provide resistance, which then produces an allergic reaction.Chocolate allergy is actually not 100 percent caused by the content of chocolate beans or powder itself, but also because of a number of other additives such as beans, milk, caffeine, gluten and emulsions such as soy lecithin. In fact, it could be an allergic reaction experienced after eating chocolate is not precisely because of the chocolate, but other ingredients.
Characteristics and Symptoms of Chocolate Allergies
Chocolate allergies are characterized by a number of symptoms that are similar to allergy symptoms in general. Symptoms of chocolate allergy can appear for a moment or several hours after consuming chocolate. In addition, the symptoms of chocolate allergy can also be mild, but do not rule out the possibility of severe symptoms that if not addressed immediately, can be life threatening!The following are symptoms of chocolate allergies that you need to know and be aware of.
1. Itching
Itching is a common symptom of body allergic reactions, including brown allergies. If after consuming chocolate you feel itching in a number of body parts, there is a possibility this is a form of brown allergic reaction. Or, this allergic reaction is caused by other additives in chocolate such as almonds and sugar.To determine whether you have a chocolate allergy or not, it's best to immediately see a doctor for further examination.
2. Red spots appear
In addition to hives, symptoms of chocolate allergy can be in the form of red spots on a number of body parts such as the eyes, lips, neck and chest. Although it is not dangerous, the itching is certainly very uncomfortable and can interfere with activity.3. Headaches
Patients with chocolate allergies are also possible to experience symptoms of headaches for a moment or a few hours after consuming chocolate. This condition is usually caused by excessive sensitivity of the body to a number of chocolate contents such as tyramine, theobromine, phenylethylamine, and caffeine.Symptoms of chocolate allergy in the form of a headache can disappear within a few minutes, but if within a matter of hours or days the head still hurts, immediately visit a doctor for further examination and medical treatment.
4. Coughing and Sneezing
These two symptoms of allergies are generally felt by people with dust allergies. Make no mistake, chocolate allergies also turn out to allow sufferers to experience symptoms of coughing and sneezing after consuming chocolate.5. Digestive Disorders
Abdominal pain, nausea, or diarrhea are symptoms of brown allergies in the digestive system. This condition is generally also not dangerous, but it still needs to be watched out by going to the doctor to be treated before it becomes more disturbing.6. Shock Anaphylaxis (Shortness of Breath)
If the initial mention of chocolate allergy can cause death, this actually starts with symptoms of brown allergy in the form of anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a form of allergic reaction that is severe and needs serious medical treatment.Anaphylactic shock in patients with brown allergies is generally in the form of shortness of breath caused by swelling in the throat which inhibits air circulation from the outside to the lungs. If it is not immediately treated, it is not impossible that the patient will experience respiratory failure and die.
Diagnosis of Chocolate Allergy
An allergic reaction after consuming chocolate is not necessarily caused by chocolate. Therefore, a diagnostic procedure is needed to ensure this. Just like other types of allergies, the diagnosis of chocolate allergy includes 3 (three) inspection procedures, namely:1. History
History or interview is the procedure for diagnosing chocolate allergy that will be first performed.
The doctor will ask the patient for information about complaints, allergy history (personal and family), history of drug use, and dietary patterns. After the data has been collected, the doctor will give the initial conclusion (hypothesis) as the basis for the next examination procedure.
2. Physical Examination
Furthermore, the patient will be examined for physical condition by a doctor by noting a number of common symptoms of brown allergies, such as red and swollen spots on the eyes and lips.
3. Supporting Examination
To ensure that if the patient really does have allergies to chocolate, the investigation will be enforced.
Skin Prick Test
The needling test or skin prick test is a test to find out the allergic reaction that is done by inserting a needle that has been given an allergic trigger (allergen) on the chocolate to the patient's skin. If the patient's skin arises patches or itching, it is almost certain if an allergic patient eats chocolate and is advised to avoid these foods.
Patch Plaster Test (Patch Test)
In practice, patch plaster tests or patch tests have no significant difference with needling tests. Only, the medium used is not the same, namely patch test using plaster that has been given chocolate allergen extract. In addition, if the needling test results are known after 15 minutes, the plaster patch test takes 48 hours until the results come out.
IgE Total
In cases where the patient's skin is less or too sensitive to allergens, the doctor will take the method of diagnosis of total IgE chocolate allergy , which is by taking a patient's blood sample and then mixed with allergen extract and analyzed, whether an allergic reaction occurs.
Chocolate Allergy Treatment
Chocolate allergy medications — just like other allergies — commonly given by doctors are antihistamines. This antihistamine functions to relieve symptoms of common chocolate allergies such as hives.Antihistamines consist of two groups, namely first generation antihistamines ( clemastine, chlorphenamine, ketotifen, alimemazine, hydroxyzine), and second generation antihistamines ( loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine).
Meanwhile, corticosteroid drugs will be given to chocolate allergic patients who experience symptoms of swelling. For symptoms of anaphylexic shock, the doctor will give an adrenaline injection to relieve this type of allergic reaction.
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