Which foods can cause eczema?

Atopic dermatitis, more generally called eczema, is a skin condition. Eczema appears most commonly on the face, neck, elbows, wrists, knees, behind the ears and the scalp.

The main symptom is an itchy rash that tends to run in families; occurs in people with their allergic problems such as asthma; and follows a pattern on the skin that varies by ages.

Allergic reactions to certain foods are thought to stimulate T-cell migration to the skin, triggering eczema and other inflammatory skin reactions.

Wheat

Although eczema may be caused by a large number of environmental triggers, approximately 40 percent of children with eczema also have a food allergy. Allergies to egg, milk, peanut, soy and wheat have a strong link with eczema symptoms.

For adult, the work of preparing food carries a high occupational risk. Occupational dermatitis in this trade is often if mixed irritant and allergic origin.

Sensitivity causing protein contact dermatitis had been found to be common among kitchen workers, who nearly all complain that their dermatitis is aggravated by contact with fish and certain vegetables.  
Which foods can cause eczema? 

Histamine intoxication

Biogenic amines such as histamine, tyramine and putrescine play an important role in many critical functions in man and animals. However, consumption of food containing high amounts of these amines may have deleterious effect on human health.

Toxic compound such as histamine, originally classified as ptomaines, result from the microbial decomposition of proteins and in some instances, decarboxylation of amino acids.

Theoretically, some amino acids can give rise to a ptomaine derivative plus carbon dioxide. Histamine intoxication can be distinguished from food allergy on the basis of:
*Lack of previous history of allergic reaction to the food involved
*The high attack rate in outbreaks involving groups of individuals
*The detection of high levels of histamine in the food implicated

Histamine poisoning can results from the ingestion of foods containing high levels of histamine. Histamine is the most toxic amine detected in food.

This poisoning historically been referred to as scombroid poisoning because of the frequent association of the illness with the consumption of spoiled scombroid fish such as mackerel and tuna. The poisoning has also been reported in connection with non-fish fermented foods like cheese and sauerkraut.

Histamine intoxication is a chemical intoxication and self-limited illness. Even without treatment symptoms usually subside within a few hours. However of left untreated, symptoms can persist for as long as 24 to 48 hr.

Some of the symptoms of histamine intoxication, e.g. nausea, vomiting, gastric pain, and headache, may be seen with other foodborne diseases or intoxications. However, the cutaneous symptoms, e.g. rash, urticaria, facial flushing, can be used to distinguish histamine poisoning from other types of foodborne intoxication.

Histamine intoxication can be severe in person with a history of allergic disease, with preexisting cardiac or respiratory conditions, or in people being treated with certain drugs, such as isoniazid or monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
Histamine intoxication

Prevalence of food sensitivities

Food sensitivities collectively rank among the most common food-related illnesses, although most of the individual types food sensitivities –such as cow’s milk allergy, peanut allergy. Asthma – are rather rare.

Studies by Dr. S. Allan Bock of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver suggest that about 5 percent of all infants under 6 years of age likely risk known diverse reactions to foods.

But of these the most frequently encountered reaction (rash and/or diarrhea after being fed fruit juices) is likely to be non-allergic. Among older age groups, food sensitivities are likely to be considerably lower.
Prevalence of food sensitivities

What are symptoms of food allergy?

What is food allergy? A food allergy is an immune system response that creates antibodies to attack substances in a food that body immune system identifies as harmful.

Having sudden allergic symptoms within an hour or two of eating a food should raise suspicions of food allergy. Symptoms of food allergies including:

Respiratory symptoms 
*Rhinitis – copious watery discharged from mucous membrane of nose
*Asthma – pulmonary distress or breathing difficulty

Cutaneous symptoms 
*Urticaria – hives. It is one of the most common symptoms of anaphylaxis.
*When foods cause a constant inflammation in the body, the person may have chronic rashes of allergic eczema, also called atopic dermatitis.

Gastrointestinal symptoms 
*They may be gut symptoms of vomiting, pain or diarrhea. Chronic stomachache can be the sign of a food allergy.
*Diarrhea – watery stools, usually with cramping
*Itching in the mouth
*Swelling of the tongue

Other symptoms
*Angio-edema/edema – swelling, often widespread and severe especially when affecting the oral / laryngeal area. It is one of the common symptoms of anaphylaxis.
*Anaphylactic shock –severe generalized shock – can result in death headache. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic retain that is rapid in onset and can be fatal.
*Weight loss and poor growth of children
What are symptoms of food allergy?