Jun

5

Egg Allergies

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eggEggs allergies rank near the top in terms of which food allergies are the most common. One of the reason for this is unfortunately the fact that eggs contain so many different healthy proteins. The many different proteins also make it difficult to figure out which protein is responsible for causing egg allergy symptoms. Like most food allergies children are the most at risk to suffering from egg allergy symptoms although many will out grow their egg allergies.

There are varying degrees of egg allergies and some people with them will be able to tolerate eggs in different states. The reason for this is because cooking the eggs changes it molecular structure, and the longer it is cooked the more the structure is changed and this will eliminate some of the proteins. For this reason some people may find that they are able to tolerate hard boiled eggs but not soft boiled. If you are allergic to eggs you should however not test if you are allergic to eggs in various cooked states with out proper medical supervision. Both the yolk and egg white contain different proteins so most people will be allergic to either egg whites or yolks but not both. Unfortunately separating the egg yolk from the egg white is not really possible as small amounts will be  left on the yolk so in many cases even people allergic to only egg whites will need to avoid egg yolks as well

Avoiding Eggs

Eliminating eggs from the diet is not as easy as skipping them at breakfast as eggs are found in everything from pastas to dessert toppings. Baking is a little easier as egg replacers can be found in most local grocery stores and depending on the eggs purpose (liquid,binder or agent) in a recipe substitution can be made in recipes with a little experimentation. Many grocery stores now care specialty line for allergy sufferers making it more easy to buy egg free goods that typically contain eggs.

Egg Allergy Symptoms

Egg Allergy Symptoms can occur minutes after eating them or may take several hours to occur.

  • Stomach problem like gas or upset stomach are common as well as diarrhea.
  • Skin problems like eczema are one of the more noticeable problems in small children. Hives and other rashes may also appear.
  • Asthma attacks and breathing problems may also result from egg allergies.
  • Anaphylactic shock is the most serious and requires immediate medical attention. During anaphylactic shock mouth and throat swell and breathing becomes very difficult.

Jun

4

Insects That Can Cause Allergies

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beeNot only is spring the time of year people start to worry about spring seasonal allergies but its also the time of year that those pesky insects make their return and invade your backyard BBQ or picnic. There are a number of insects that can cause allergies from stinging or biting, the most common are bubble bees, wasps and fire ants.

Bubble Bees

Bubble bee stings can of course be dangerous to those allergic but luckily the bubble bee is not aggressive and most likely won’t attack unless it feels the need to defend itself. Bubble bees and honey bees are attracted to bright flower like colors, food (specially scents) and water. They will leave behind their stinger after stinging and can only sting once as they die after stinging.

Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets

These speices tend to be more aggressive than the bubble bee and can sting multiple times leaving no stinger behind. You can find them nesting in and around wooded structures as well as eaves of houses. They are attracted more to sweet things like sugar or your can of soda pop on the picnic table.

Fire Ants

Fire ants were accidentally imported from South America and are quickly becoming a problem as they have spread through much of the United States. The ants live in mounds and can be very aggressive attacking and stinging 6-8 times even if not provoked. The sting can be very painful so shoes are a good idea even if you are not allergic to their bites.

Jun

3

Work Place Allergies

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workAs we reported in our previous post about the lottery booth employee who got asthma from the ticket printers, work place allergies can be a serious problem and require a lot of diligence. Its important to act on early signs to avoid any serious complications and long term damage.

Obviously if you have a allergy or a family history of allergies you should factor this in to your career choice. If for example you have a severe food allergy you wouldn’t want to work in a place where that food is stored, processed or packed. Other allergies however can evolve over time where a employee could first show signs of a allergy in as little as 4 months or as long as 15 years. Those who work closely with chemicals can find they develop allergies like this after a number of years. The same goes for those who work closely with latex, like those working in the medical field who are exposed to latex routinely.

Its important on any job to follow the guidelines for safety protection when it comes to clothing, breathing masks, gloves and other safety equipment when dealing with any possible sensitive materials to avoid as much contact as possible. At the time such equipment may seem silly but avoiding trace amounts is important as well as any contact that could occur in event of a accident. If you think you are suffering from work place allergies or sensitivity report it and see your doctor right away for testing.

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