Posted on January 8, 2008 in Latest News
Chocolate or Cocoa allergy is very rare. These days Chocolate allergy is caused due to intolerance of certain ingredients and additives used in chocolates and chocolate products. Chocolate contains three forms of Cocoa, Cocoa liquor, Cocoa butter and Cocoa powder. Allergies are caused when our immune system identifies a harmless substances as a harmful allergen and releases antibodies and histamines to neutralize it and fight it.
Symptoms of Chocolate Allergy
Symptoms of Chocolate allergy are common to all forms of food allergy like hives, rectal itching, heartburn, rectal itching, wheezing and breathing problems. Anaphylactic symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, loss of consciousness and heart palpitations.
Causes of Chocolate Allergy
Chocolate allergy usually occurs as a result of sensitivity to another ingredient or additive found in chocolates. Ingredients such as cow’s milk containing components like whey and casein, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat or gluten, soybeans, soy lecithin, corn syrup etc. Food additives like butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, tartrazine (yellow number five), nickel, etc. Chocolates may also contain caffeine, theobromine, phenylethylamine, tyramine etc that may also cause allergic reactions in sensitive people.
Diagnosis of Chocolate Allergy
You should see your doctor as soon as you experience the allergy symptoms, common throughout almost all types of food allergy. If you experience anaphylactic symptoms make sure you seek emergency treatment.
In order to find out whether or not it is an allergy, the doctor will conduct two general tests – skin test and blood test. In the skin test, your skin will be pricked and exposed to some soy proteins to see if it causes any allergic reactions. In the blood test a small sample of your blood is examined to see if there are any antibodies (Immunoglobulin E) present in your bloodstream.
Treatment for Chocolate Allergy
Chocolate Allergy would be treated with the help of
Antihistamines that relieve the basic allergic symptoms.
Topical creams that treat hives and dermatitis.
Bronchodilators that help clear the congested bronchial tubes and airways to improve breathing.
Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and prevent allergy attacks from recurring.
Prevention of Chocolate Allergy
Unlike the other forms of food allergy the diagnosis and finding the actual allergen is rather difficult. Once you find out the exact cause and allergen, its better to avoid eating or coming in contact with the product that contains the allergen.
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