| During the holiday season, you should be aware of food allergies and food poisoning caused by different foods. The picture is of holiday food (source-Clip Art Korea). |
One of the things to be aware of during the Lunar New Year holidays is ‘food allergy’. On holidays, family and friends gather in one place and share food, and due to the nature of Korean food, the ingredients used vary from region to region or home. So, if you have food allergies, it’s always good to check the ingredients beforehand. With the help of Daedong Hospital, we learned about the main symptoms of food allergy and how to deal with them.
Most adults are aware of what food allergies they have. But children often don’t know. Therefore, if your child has a food allergy, you should let them know so that you do not recommend the food carelessly. Children can eat when parents aren’t looking, so you need to watch more carefully than usual.
A food allergy is an overreaction to proteins in food after eating certain foods. In addition to mild reactions such as redness, hives, itching, swelling, stuffy nose, sneezing and coughing, various symptoms such as dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and wheezing can occur. In particular, if you experience life-threatening ‘anaphylaxis’ symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, pale face, choking, difficulty speaking, and loss of consciousness after eating, you should call 119 immediately for help.
In an emergency, first place the child on a flat surface until 911 arrives and untie the constricting clothing. And it is good to take as much rest as possible and continue to monitor the condition. Even if the symptoms improve temporarily, you must visit a medical institution because a secondary reaction may occur.
Daedong Hospital Regional Emergency Medical Center Director Goh Gyeong-wan (emergency medicine specialist) said, “Milk, wheat flour, egg whites, walnuts, peanuts, pine nuts, buckwheat flour, shrimp, peaches, and kiwi are common causes of allergies. When feeding these foods to children, they should be checked for allergic reactions.” The Go Manager also said, “I usually know the food that causes my allergy.
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| Daedong Go Gyeong-wan Hospital Regional Emergency Medical Center Director |
Even adults often visit the emergency room due to allergies during the holiday season, so special care is needed,” she said.
Food poisoning is a confusing disease because the symptoms are similar. Food poisoning is a disease caused by eating contaminated food with bacteria or toxins in it. Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea are similar to food allergies, but there is a difference as it takes some time for symptoms to occur.
Additionally, if a child eats foods that contain caffeine, they may be overexcited and restless, and a rash may appear when eating acidic foods such as tomatoes and orange juice. Also, be aware that lactose in milk can cause digestive problems such as diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain.
