ALLERGY/PET BIRDS
Dogs and cats have long been considered a prominent cause of
respiratory allergy, but now studies reveal that household pet
birds may be as great a problem to allergic people as dogs and
cats. Nighttime sneezing, wheezy cough, stuffy nose,
conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye),
asthma, and rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the
nose) are common symptoms. (Annals of Allergy 52:56-57, January
1984) Copyright Phylis Austin
FOOD ALLERGY/INFANT COLITIS
Inflammation of the colon in infants is most frequently due to food
allergy. Colitis may appear soon after foods other than breast
milk are introduced. Cow's milk is the most frequent offender, but
soy and beef should be suspect. (Archives of Disease in Childhood
59(4)326-329, 1984) Copyright Phylis Austin
ALLERGIC REACTION/BEEF/ANTIBIOTICS
A 14-year-old girl sometimes suffered allergic reactions after
eating beef. Careful study of the patient revealed that she had
received a streptomycin injection when a young child, and
apparently developed an allergy to it. Streptomycin is often given
to cattle, and apparently some of it remained in the beef she ate,
producing a dangerous allergic reaction in her. (Annals of Allergy
53:243-244 September 1984) Copyright Phylis Austin
VITAMIN E/ALLERGIC REACTIONS
Various forms of vitamin E are recommended for many skin ailments
and cosmetics often contain vitamin E. Two patients who applied
vitamin E on scar tissue suffered allergic reactions. (Archives of
Dermatology 120:906-908, 1984) Copyright Phylis Austin
BEE POLLEN/ALLERGY
Bee pollen is currently promoted as a high protein supplement and
in the treatment of ulcers, prostatitis and respiratory disease.
Asthmatics (and others) may react adversely to this substance. One
19-year-old man developed life-threatening symptoms one or two
minutes after taking two pollen tablets. (Australian and New
Zealand Journal of Medicine 15:346-347,1985) Copyright Phylis Austin
BRONCHIAL ASTHMA/FOOD ALLERGY
A Netherlands study reveals that food allergy may induce bronchial
asthma more frequently than has been recognized in the past.
(Annals of Allergy 55(2)387, August, 1985) Copyright Phylis Austin
EGG/ALLERGIC DISEASE
Allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and asthma occurred at
less than half the expected rate in a group of children whose
mothers did not eat egg from the seventh month of pregnancy, and
after birth the infants were not given egg until they were at least
eight months of age. (Annals of Allergy 55(2)277, August, 1985) Copyright Phylis Austin
ALLERGY/HEMATURIA
Hematuria (blood in the urine) may be due to allergy. (Annals of
Allergy 55(2)353, August,1985) Copyright Phylis Austin
DEPRESSION/FOOD ALLERGY
A 58-year-old female with a ten year history of recurrent
depression with numerous hospitalizations with antidepressant and
electroconvulsive treatment, improved on an allergen free diet.
Her symptoms included depression, lack of energy, skin problems,
headache and painful urination. A dietary review revealed a high
dairy-product consumption. These foods were removed from her diet,
and after three days of worsening of her headache and depression
(withdrawal period) she had a marked improvement in her symptoms.
Because her symptoms were not entirely cleared further
experimentation was done, and eventually beef was also eliminated.
With these dietary changes she improved still more. She was
followed over a 12-month period with good results, except when she
accidently consumed either beef or dairy products. Copyright Phylis Austin
FOOD ALLERGY/APHTHOUS ULCERS
Recurrent mouth ulcers may be due to food allergy, according to a
study carried out by the Department of Gastroenterology at two
Sheffield, England hospitals. Six of 15 patients had dramatic
response to a diet free of gluten, milk, and azo dyes from
preservatives. (British Medical Journal 292:1237-1238, May 10,
1986) It is possible that those who did not respond had allergies
to foods which had not been eliminated in this trial. Copyright Phylis Austin
PAINFUL MENSTRUATION/ALLERGY
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) may be due to food allergy. D.
R. Smith, M.D. reported 12 cases of painful menstruation, vaginal
discharge, and irregular menstrual periods, who were tested
for allergies. The foods they demonstrated sensitivity to were
eliminated from their diets beginning one week prior to the
expected menstrual period. Eight of the 12 in the study received
complete relief of their symptoms; the remaining four had partial
relief. Milk, eggs, wheat, beef, nuts, chocolate, fish, beans,
cauliflower, cabbage and pepper were common allergens in this
study. (Journal of the Missouri Medical Association 28:382-384,
1931) Copyright Phylis Austin
MILK ALLERGY/INFANTS
A study conducted at the Royal Children's Hospital in Parksville,
Victoria, Australia, demonstrates that milk allergy in infants may
be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms may be delayed in onset, making
it difficult to relate cause and effect. (Journal of Pediatrics
109:270-276, 1986) Copyright Phylis Austin
MATERNAL SMOKING/ALLERGY IN CHILDREN
Children of mothers who smoke are at fourfold risk of developing
allergic disease by the time they are a year-and-a-half old
(Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 78:898-904, 1986) Copyright Phylis Austin
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS/FOOD ALLERGY
Almost 30 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients in a study
carried out at Vanderbilt University and the University of Florida
stated that certain foods worsened their disease. Preservatives,
pork, beef, sugars, alcohol, chocolate and caffeine were the most
commonly listed trouble-makers. (Arthritis and Rheumatism 30(1
Suppl)542, January, 1987) Copyright Phylis Austin
FOOD ALLERGY/ARTHRALGIA (JOINT PAIN)
Still another study suggests an association between food allergy
and joint pains. A study from Italy says that milk and cheese,
artificial colors and preservatives, wheat and egg were common
food allergens in their study group. They noted that symptoms may
appear 12 hours after the intake of the offending food or 48 hours
later. (Annals of Allergy 59:422-238, December, 1987) Copyright Phylis Austin
MILK ALLERGY/SLEEP PROBLEMS
Milk allergy may cause sleep problems in young children. Over ten
percent of a group of children evaluated for sleep problems had
marked improvement in their sleep habits when milk was eliminated
from their diet. (Pediatrics 84(4)595-603, October 1989) Copyright Phylis Austin
FOOD ALLERGY/IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
A study of 200 patients who suffered from irritable bowel syndrome
revealed that half of them had marked reduction in symptoms when
they were tested for food allergens, and the offending foods were
eliminated from their diets. Dairy products such as milk, cheese
and butter were the most common allergens, but eggs, wheat,
chocolate, nuts, tea, coffee, citrus fruits and potatoes were also
common allergens. Sorbitol and fructose cause symptoms in some
patients.
The patients had a decrease in abdominal pain, and more normal
bowel habits. (Gut 30:1099-1104, 1989) Because food allergies are
so difficult to diagnose it is possible the patients who did not
respond were allergic to foods other than those tested. Several
previous studies have shown a relationship between food allergy and
irritable bowel syndrome. The best method of testing is the home
testing method of eliminating a long list of foods (See Food
Allergies Made Simple) until symptoms disappear (about one month),
and then adding the foods back one at a time, every five to seven
days. Copyright Phylis Austin
ALLERGIC RHINITIS (HAY FEVER)/TONSILLECTOMY
Removal of the tonsils may lead to development of hay fever
according to some researchers. (Archives of Otolaryngology, Head
and Neck Surgery 115:1134-1135, September 1989) Tonsil removal
should not be taken lightly -- these organs have a function to
perform in the protection of the body from disease. Copyright Phylis Austin
CROHN'S DISEASE/FOOD ALLERGY
A study suggests that the intake of baker's and brewer's yeast may
contribute to Crohn's disease. (Gut 31:536-538, 1990) Copyright Phylis Austin
MENIERE'S DISEASE/FOOD ALLERGY
Meniere's disease, with symptoms of ringing in the ears, dizziness,
and hearing loss, may be due to food allergy according to a report
from the House Ear Institute. It has been known for some time that
caffeine and salt use should be restricted in Meniere's disease
patients, but over half of the patients in this study had
improvement in their symptoms with elimination of the food
allergen. Common allergens were wheat, milk, and egg. (New
Horizons and Otolaryngic Allergy, August 1989) Copyright Phylis Austin
PEPTIC ULCERS/ALLERGY
Some types of peptic ulcer may be due to allergy according to a
recent report from Poland. A study 1,000 patients suffering from
peptic ulcers revealed that many of them had ulcer recurrences
after exposure to substances to which they were allergic. The most
common allergens in the study group were milk, house dust, grass
pollen, Aspergillus, wheat, tomato, and cockroach. (Clinical and
Experimental Allergy 20(Suppl 1)67, July 1990) Copyright Phylis Austin
INSECT STING ALLERGY IN CHILDREN
A study sponsored by a grant from the National Institutes of Health
suggests that venom immunotherapy is not required for most children
who are allergic to insect stings, but whose symptoms are limited
to skin symptoms. (New England Journal of Medicine 323:1601-3,
1990) Copyright Phylis Austin
MILK ALLERGY/"NONDAIRY" FOODS
Even foods labeled "parve" (containing no milk or meat products) or
"nondairy" may contain sufficient amounts of milk products to
produce symptoms in people with milk allergy. (The New England
Journal of Medicine 324(14)976-979, April 4, 1991) Copyright Phylis Austin
ULCERATIVE COLITIS/CROHN'S DISEASE/MILK ALLERGY
A surprising number of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
sufferers are allergic to lactose and/or milk. (Gastroenterology
104(4 pt 2)A1052, 1993) A milk-free diet may bring these
individuals great relief. Copyright Phylis Austin
ALLERGIC RHINITIS/WHEEZING/STREET TRAFFIC
Elementary school children who live on streets with high traffic
areas may suffer increased rates of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis
(hay fever). (Annals of Epidemiology 4:243-247, 1994) Copyright Phylis Austin
ARTHRITIS/MILK ALLERGY
A 52-year-old woman who had suffered arthritis for 11 years had
dramatic improvement in her symptoms after the elimination of milk
and milk products from her diet. (Dr. Alexander Grant's Health
Gazette 17(3)4, March 1994) Copyright Phylis Austin
OTITIS (EARACHE) IN CHILDREN/ALLERGY
Dr. Joseph Mercola of Schaumburg, Illinois, writes that food
allergy is the most important cause of otitis in children. He has
treated hundreds of cases of earache in children and always begins
with the elimination of milk and cheese. He states that in his
practice milk is responsible for nearly half of the earaches he
treats. (Family Practice News 26(19)12-13, October 1, 1996) Copyright Phylis Austin