Tree Nut Allergies
In the U.S. 90% children are diagnosed with allergies to one or more tree nuts, and stay allergic to them for life. Tree nuts include cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, pine nuts, etc. Almonds are considered to be the safest nut, as it has a low incidence of allergic reactions, whereas, walnuts and cashews are known to cause the most allergic reactions.
Mostly people who are allergic to one type of a tree nut are not allergic to other tree nuts. But as there is a high level of cross-reactivity among all tree nuts, most people have allergic reactions to more than one nut. Cross-reactivity implies having allergies to similar foods within a food group. Walnuts and pecans, cashews and pistachios are known to have the highest properties of cross-reactivity. People allergic to any one type of tree nut, are advised to stay away from all kinds of nuts including peanuts.
Peanut allergies are often confused with tree nut allergies, though their symptoms are quite similar. Peanuts are biologically unrelated to tree nuts, as they are from the legume family. However, as there is cross-reactivity between them, some cases of people with allergies to tree nuts are known to be at a higher risk of developing peanut allergies.
Considering coconuts as a tree nut is still subjected to controversy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made it mandatory for all food labels to list coconut as a tree nut, while the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network has reported extremely low incidence of coconut allergies. However, cross-reactivity between coconuts, walnuts and hazelnuts have been reported in certain cases.
Allergic Reaction to Tree Nuts
Such allergies tend to be severe, systematic and have the potential to be life-threatening. They cause anaphylaxis, which is an allergic reaction that causes shock and serve breathing difficulties, and at times may even lead to death. They are known to be fatal to patients who are prescribed medication from the epinephrine family. These allergies also cause skin infections like hives and welts, and in some cases cause asthma.
An allergic reaction to the tree nut will usually begin within minutes or may take a couple of hours, depending upon the severity of the allergy. Symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, immediate runny nose, itchy watery eyes and sneezing are immediate reactions to allergy.
Prevention of Allergy
Most food allergies can be avoided with a little bit of care and attention to the food labels for hidden nuts as its ingredients. Sometimes, even skin or eye contact with the tree nut causes allergies.
Products like nut liqueurs, chocolate, candies, cookies, sweets, desserts, ice-cream with toppings, almond paste, muffins, donuts, sundaes, cereals, pralines, milkshakes, granola bars, trail mixes, pesto sauce, muesli, etc. contain tree nuts in varying quantities. Even bathing and cosmetic products that are laced with tree nuts, cause allergic reaction, upon skin or eye contact
It is a difficult task to have a tree nut free-diet, but considering the health repercussions and fatalities associated with nut allergies, prevention is a better option.
