A soy allergy mainly affects children under the age of five, but it can affect anyone at any age. Soy is considered one of the top seven highly allergic foods, according to MedlinePlus. Other highly allergic foods include milk, wheat, eggs, fish, peanuts and tree nuts. Signs of a soy allergy typically appear within a few minutes after eating products containing soy. If you experience adverse reactions to soy, talk with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
About Soy Allergies
Soy allergies occur from a malfunction of the immune system. When you eat soy, your body mistakes the proteins in the soy for harmful substances and begins to produce antibodies that will specifically attack the proteins. During the production of antibodies, cells respond to the body's defense by creating higher levels of histamine. This chemical is primarily responsible for most soy allergy signs and symptoms.
Minor Signs
Minor signs of a soy allergy are common allergy symptoms, such as allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is associated with most allergy conditions, including hay fever, seasonal allergies and food allergies. These symptoms include nasal congestion and eye and throat irritation such as itchy and watery eyes, post-nasal drip, sinus pressure and a sore throat. These signs should be evaluated by a medical doctor.
Moderate Signs
More moderate signs of a soy allergy include asthma and gastrointestinal difficulties. After eating soy, you may experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing and chest pain because of inflammation in the airways. Gastrointestinal difficulties can cause upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, gas, bloating and abdominal pain.
Severe and Warning Signs
A severe allergic reaction to soy can lead to death and needs to be taken extremely seriously. The first signs of anaphylactic shock include shortness of breath, hives, dizziness, light-headedness, chest pain, an increased heart rate and a drop in blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com. Call 911 for immediate medical intervention if you experience any of these signs.
Treatment
Avoiding the consumption of soy products is the best treatment for a soy allergy, according to MedlinePlus. For mild to moderate signs, you can take an oral antihistamine to reduce the amount of histamine in the body, thus reducing inflammation and alleviating common symptoms. Severe allergic reactions need to be treated with an injection of epinephrine within 15 minutes.
