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IgE Vs Non IgE Allergy | cubspaediatricdietetics.au

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Cubspaediatricdietetics
IgE Vs Non IgE Allergy | cubspaediatricdietetics.au

Non-IgE mediated food allergy (non-IgE FA) occurs as a result of cellular innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. It typically presents with a delayed onset of symptoms and can be difficult to distinguish from other gastrointestinal diseases or functional disorders.

In the diagnosis of non-IgE FA, a thorough clinical history and diagnostic tests are essential. Skin prick testing can be helpful in patients who have compatible symptoms and a positive SPT with a mean wheal diameter size greater than 3 mm. However, this test cannot differentiate between sensitization and a true IgEmediated food allergy.

Symptoms

A person with an ige vs non ige allergy may not have any symptoms or experience only minor ones. Symptoms of these allergic reactions can be more delayed than those of IgE-mediated food allergies, often taking hours to days to show up after consuming a certain food.

Unlike IgE-mediated allergies, these types of reactions don’t usually require epinephrine (an Epi-pen injection) to treat them. And, they rarely lead to shock (when the baby’s body can’t get enough blood flow).

Symptoms of non-IgE mediated food allergies usually affect the gastrointestinal tract. These reactions can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps. It’s important to eliminate the foods that cause these allergic reactions until they go away. Then, you can reintroduce them to see if your baby’s symptoms improve again.

Diagnosis

Most of the time, a baby's IgE-mediated food allergy is diagnosed by taking an oral challenge test (OFT). After your baby has consumed the food that's causing them an allergic reaction, you can see if their symptoms improve.

If your baby's symptoms still improve after you remove the food they're allergic to, then they could have a non-IgE-mediated food allergy. This type of food allergy usually doesn't cause severe allergic reactions, but they can still be life-threatening.

The diagnosis of non-IgE-mediated and mixed IgE/non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergies consists of an in-depth clinical evaluation. This includes the use of both old and new diagnostic tools, including fecal biomarkers, atopy patch tests, endoscopy, specific IgG and IgG4 testing, allergen-specific lymphocyte stimulation test (ALST), and clinical score (CoMiss).

Treatment

Food allergy is defined as an adverse health effect resulting from a specific immune response to food antigens. These reactions can be further classified into IgEmediated, non-IgE mediated and mixed, depending on the immunological mechanisms involved.

In IgE-mediated food allergies, the immune system produces special immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that over-defend the body against a specific food. When they eat the food, the IgE antibodies cause the body to release histamine and other chemicals that trigger an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of IgE-mediated food allergies usually begin within 2 hours after eating the offending food, and they often last until up to 28 hours later. These reactions can be easily diagnosed with a blood or skin prick test.

Similarly, symptoms of non-IgE mediated food allergies can take hours to days to appear after a person eats the offending food. These reactions can also be difficult to diagnose with a blood or skin prick. For this reason, doctors typically recommend that people with non-IgE mediated food allergies remove a specific food from their diet until they no longer have any symptoms.

Prevention

IgE-mediated food allergies are more common than non ige allergies, and they typically cause severe reactions. They can lead to hives, swelling or trouble breathing. Symptoms may require an epinephrine injection (an Epi-pen).

Non ige allergy can be easier to diagnose, since they're typically associated with a specific food. Skin prick tests or blood tests can help identify IgE antibodies for specific foods.

In addition, careful avoidance of the food trigger can often prevent future allergic reactions. For example, milk is one of the most common triggers for a baby's first food allergy.

But if your child does develop an IgE-mediated food allergy, it's important to follow up and make sure they're eating all the right things. Besides avoiding the food trigger, you can also talk to your doctor about using medication to treat the allergy. For example, you can use antihistaminics or anti-itch medications to reduce allergy symptoms. You can also use oral immunotherapy to desensitize your child to the food trigger.


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