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Peanuts are among the highest allergenic foods – for a person suffering from peanut allergy, even some trace amounts can turn out to be deadly. Unlike any other nut allergies, a serious peanut allergy can become fatal within a couple of minutes. For instance, a severe peanut allergy attack comes with a throat that swells whereby the person suffering from this allergy cannot breathe anymore. While swelling of the throat is regarded as the most critical symptoms when it comes to peanut allergies, a person may experience other severe symptoms that include flushed face, hives, swollen or itchy tongue, mouth and eyes, tightness in mouth, throat and chest, vomiting, nausea, running nose, change in voice, trouble swallowing or breathing, onset of dizziness and severe fatigue and coughing, choking or wheezing. If your peanut allergy is new, you will need emergency care soon immediately after experiencing one of the symptoms listed above. But if you are already aware that you suffer from peanut allergy, you can carry around shots of epinephrine in order to have one of them administered soon after you experience the first sign of your peanut allergy. It’s best for you to get diagnosed by your own family physician in order to find out whether you need a very serious treatment. Usually, a doctor will conduct the necessary skin tests – a peanut extract will be injected in order to find out whether redness or swelling occur. If they do occur, this will indicate the presence of an allergic reaction to peanut proteins. Afterward, your doctor will conduct the necessary blood test in order to identify all the antibodies that correspond to your peanut allergy sample. Also, blind food challenge tests may be conducted as well in order to determine the right cause of your food allergy. Elimination diet may be used as well – peanuts are removed from your daily diet for weeks in order for your doctor to see whether your allergic reactions to peanuts continue and persist. Keep in mind that if you notice changes after you have eaten peanuts or peanut products, then chances are you already have some degree of allergy to this food. In this case, you will have to get tested by a professional – an allergist, in order to see whether there is a problem or not. Also, the really good news is that you can substitute peanuts and peanut products with other delicious nuts – walnuts or pecans- without experiencing any problems to their nut proteins. However, you must read the labels very carefully, especially when dining out – always ask whether your food contains or it has been made of peanut products, peanut oil or peanuts. Make sure that you never use the same utensils with a person who eats foods that may contain peanut oil or peanut traces. Peanut allergies are triggered by a hypersensitive reactions of the body to peanut proteins when someone eats peanuts, peanut oil or peanut particles. Foods such as arachis oil, peanut butter, expressed peanut oil, groundnut oil or hydrolyzed plant may trigger allergic reactions. Also, there are plenty of common foods that contain peanut oil or particles – energy bars, crackers, salad dressings, breakfast cereals, vegetarian dishes and dressers. Each of these foods may trigger an allergic reaction if you are suffering from peanut allergy. Photo - Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/lancefisher/4368715953/
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