DINSHA PATEL COLLEGE OF NURSING

COURSE NAME : DIPLOMA IN GENERAL NURSING

AND MIDWIFERY (G.N.M.)
ACADEMIC YEAR : FIRST YEAR
SUBJECT NAME : COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING
(NUTRITION)
UNIT : 3rd
TUTORIL TITLE : FOOD ALLERGIES AND FOOD
INTOLERANCES

Prepared by :
Mr. Kailash Nagar
Assistant Professor
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 Food Allergies
and
Food Intolerances

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 What is food allergy?
Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food
triggered by the body’s immune system.
Allergic reactions to food can cause serious illness or
even death.
What is food intolerance ?
An abnormal physiological response to eating
Food intolerance is caused by the lack of our body’s
ability to digest certain substances.
Some people may have a food intolerance that has a
psychological trigger.
Food allergy is different with food intolerance
although both can show similar symptoms.
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 Types of food allergies

1-31 6 Source: Adapted from Boyce et al. JACI, 201012/2/2017

 IgE mediated food allergy

 Reactions occur when allergens bind to

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies bound to mast cells,
 resulting in the release of histamine and other
inflammatory mediators.
 Symptoms are usually of rapid onset (<30 minutes in
children, usually <2 hours in adults).
 Diagnostic tests (e.g. skin prick and blood tests) are
usually positive.

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 Non IgE mediated food allergy.
 Reactions occur when the ingested food protein causes
an immune response resulting in delayed
 normally in the skin or gastrointestinal tract.
 Symptoms usually occur 2-24 hours after ingestion of
the food protein.
 Diagnostic tests are usually negative. There is no
definitive in vitro test for non IgE mediated food
allergies.
 Mixed IgE and non IgE symptom clusters (of the above)
can occur. Non IgE mediated can convert to IgE
mediated allergy and therefore long term follow up is
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 Food Intolerance

 Food poisoning:
 Histamine toxicity
 Lactose intolerance
 Food additives, such as:
 MSG
 Sulfites
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 How do allergic reactions work?
An immediate allergic reaction involves two actions of our
immune system:
Our immune system produces immunoglobulin E (IgE) – a
type of protein that works against a specific food –
antibody.
IgE attaches basophils (white blood cells) and to mast
cells – cells found in all body tissues. The typical sites of
allergic reactions include nose, throat, lungs, skin and GI
tract.

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 How do allergic reactions work?

 Food allergens are proteins within the food that

enter our bloodstream after the food is digested.

 Food allergen go to target organs such as skin,

nose, etc and cause allergic reactions.

 An allergic reaction to food can take place within

few minutes to an hour.

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 How do allergic reactions work?
The symptoms of cell-mediated allergic reactions do not
begin to appear until 6–24 hrs after ingestion of the
offending food. These reactions develop slowly,
reaching a peak at approx. 48 hrs and subsiding after 72–
96 hrs.
The mechanisms of cell-mediated food allergies are not
nearly as well understood.
They involve an interaction between specific food
allergens and sensitized T lymphocytes - a major
component of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue.
Lymphocyte stimulation initiates the release of cytokines
and lymphokines which produces a localized
inflammatory response.
Antibodies are not involved in these reactions.
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 Examples of Allergic Conditions
and Symptoms

 Skin and Mucous Membranes

 Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
 Urticaria (hives)
 Angioedema (swelling of tissues, especially mouth
and face)
 Pruritus (itching)
 Contact dermatitis (rash in contact with allergen)
 Oral symptoms (irritation and swelling of tissues
around and inside the mouth)
 Oral allergy syndrome
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 Examples of Allergic Conditions
and Symptoms
 Digestive Tract
 Diarrhea
 Constipation
 Nausea and Vomiting
 Abdominal bloating and distension
 Abdominal pain
 Indigestion (heartburn)
 Belching

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 Examples of Allergic Conditions
and Symptoms

 Respiratory Tract
 Seasonal or perennial rhinitis (hayfever )
 Rhinorrhea (runny nose)
 Allergic conjunctivitis (itchy, watery, reddened eyes)
 Serous otitis media (earache with effusion)
 Asthma
 Laryngeal oedema (throat tightening due to
swelling of tissues)

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 Examples of Allergic Conditions
and Symptoms
 Nervous System
 Migraine
 Other headaches
 Spots before the eyes
 Restlessness
 Hyperactivity
 Lack of concentration
 Tension-fatigue syndrome
 Irritability
 Chilliness
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 Anaphylaxis
 Severe reaction of rapid onset, involving most organ
systems, which results in circulatory collapse and drop in
blood pressure
 In the most extreme cases the reaction progresses to
anaphylactic shock with cardiovascular collapse
 This can be fatal

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 Most Common Food Allergens

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 Management of food allergy
 Symptomatic pharmacotherapy
 Dietary avoidance
 hyposensitization, anti-IgE antibodies, and DNA
vaccination with allergen DNA.
 Counseling: nutritional, psychological
 HACCP can be adapted to identify and control
potential food allergy problems before they
happen.

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 Thank You!

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