A peanut allergy is a hypersensitivity and reaction to foods made with peanuts. For individuals who suffer from a peanut allergy, seeing an allergist in NYC may be necessary. Peanut allergies affect a small amount of people in the United States, with an estimated 0.4-0.6% of the population being allergic to peanuts. Very severe allergic reactions will require the use of an "EpiPen", an injection that contains epinephrine. Epinephrine is a hormone and neurotransmitter that is used to treat the onset of anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that has a rapid onset and requires medical attention immediately, as it can cause death. Signs and symptoms include rash, throat swelling, and low blood pressure. If the anaphylaxis is caused intravenously, the reaction will have an average onset of 5-30 minutes. If the reaction is due to a food, such as peanuts, anaphylaxis will generally have an onset 2 hours. Commonly, the skin is the area affected. 70% of people will see respiratory problems, 30-45% will see gastrointestinal disturbance, and 10-45% will see cardiovascular effects. When the skin is affected, the symptoms are generally hives, itching, flushing, and swelling of the affected area. There may be a blue tinge to the skin due to a lack of oxygen. Respiratory symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, and stridor. As of late, there is no confirmed treatment for peanut allergies; however, since May of 2008, a treatment called "mithridatism" has been used in some children. This method entails feeding very small amounts of peanut products to the child, with the peanut traces being fed increasingly over time. This is said to desensitize the body's immune system to peanuts allergens. The main treatment of peanut allergies is a strict avoidance of peanut products and an emergency epinephrine auto-injector. A peanut allergy can be confirmed by an allergist in NYC who may advise the individual to carry an EpiPen at all times. Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Hudson Allergy http://hudsonallergy.com/ is a top quality allergist in NYC that will diagnose and alleviate your allergy problems.
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