Nut allergies are among the most common food allergies. This is problematic because many foods contain traces of nuts. We’ll explain to you how to recognize a nut allergy and what you can do about it.
Nut allergy is a food allergy. If you suffer from a nut allergy, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, walnuts or cashews, for example, trigger an allergic reaction. Those affected can be allergic to just one type of nut, but also to all nuts. When allergy sufferers eat nuts, the immune system reacts with a defensive reaction to the nut.
According to the European Foundation for Allergy Research (ECARF), 1.4 percent of Europeans suffer from a nut allergy. Children and adults are equally affected by this allergy. As a rule, the allergy cannot be completely cured, so affected children often still have to struggle with the allergy as adults.
However, there are also people who only come into contact with a nut allergy in adulthood. According to ECARF, many of them are allergic to birch pollen. Some of the pollen contains similar proteins to nuts, so this so-called cross reaction can also trigger a nut allergy. In this case, however, the symptoms of those affected are somewhat milder and are usually limited to the mouth and throat area.
Nut allergy: symptoms at a glance
A nut allergy usually occurs immediately after eating nuts. According to studies, the following symptoms may occur with an allergic reaction:
- itching
- Scratchy throat
- Gasp
- Tightness in the throat
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Tightness in the chest
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- dizziness
If you experience one or more symptoms after eating nuts, you should have an allergy test carried out by your doctor. Classic allergy tests such as skin or blood tests are used for diagnosis. The results provide information about the triggers of your allergy.
The symptoms can vary for each person affected and can occur in very different degrees of severity. If you develop a severe nut allergy with symptoms such as shortness of breath, you should urgently call an emergency doctor.
What to do if you have a nut allergy?
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / piviso)
There are several ways to deal with a nut allergy. We have put together the most important tips for treatment:
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Avoiding nuts: If you have a nut allergy, it is most important that you avoid eating nuts so that there is no risk of an allergic reaction.
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Pay attention to food ingredients: A major difficulty with nut allergies is that many foods contain traces of nuts. Often you can’t taste them. Nevertheless, the symptoms begin even with small amounts. Therefore, you should definitely pay attention to the ingredients they contain when you buy food.
The individual types of nuts must be listed individually as ingredients and highlighted in bold or underlined. These include: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts or pistachios. Pay attention to this when shopping.
When voluntarily labeling possible contamination (trace labeling), nuts are usually grouped together under the name “nuts” or “nuts”.
Since December 13, 2014, loose, unpackaged goods in bakeries, butchers or restaurants have also been legally required to label the fourteen most common allergy triggers.
How you can help in an emergency
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Tho-Ge)
If you are not affected by a nut allergy yourself, but someone around you is suffering from an allergic shock, the first step you should take is to call emergency services. An allergic shock occurs when a person suffering from a nut allergy not only affects the skin (itching, rash), but also at least one other organ such as the lungs, gastrointestinal tract or circulatory system. What you can do in the meantime until emergency services arrive:
- If the affected person is approachable, you should ask them whether they have an emergency kit with them. Food allergy sufferers usually receive such sets from their doctors, with the recommendation that they carry them with them outside the home. They usually contain an adrenaline injector (for severe reactions), an antihistamine to prevent inflammation, a cortisone preparation or a spray to relieve shortness of breath. The use of the emergency kit is explained in an allergy passport. Help the affected person use the resources.
- If the affected person does not have an emergency kit, you should first reassure them. If you have difficulty breathing, you can open the clothing at the neck and sit the person down, preferably with their arms behind them to make breathing easier. If you have circulatory problems, the affected person should lie down and elevate their legs. If you are unconscious, the recovery position is recommended.
There is currently no effective therapy to cure an allergy to nuts. However, researchers are working on oral immunotherapy.
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Edited by Melanie Grünauer
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