According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, nearly 2 million Americans are allergic to tree nuts, and these allergies are one of the leading causes of life-threatening allergic reactions to food. Types of tree nuts include almonds, walnuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts and hazelnuts. Tree nuts are not in the same category as another common nut allergen, peanuts, a legume or seeds such as sesame or sunflower. Tree nut allergies tend to be a lifelong problem. Individuals allergic to tree nuts need to be mindful of hidden sources of tree nuts in many common foods.
What are Allergies?
Allergies are reactions of your immune system to foreign substances. Your immune system produces antibodies, or substances that protect you from foreign substances that can cause infection or make you sick. During an allergic reaction, your immune system generates antibodies that identify the allergen as harmful, even though it is not. Allergies are not curable.
Symptoms
Your immune system reacts to the contact with the allergen by causing inflammation of the sinuses, skin, digestive system or airways. Food allergies may cause hives, swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat and a tingling mouth. In some severe cases, allergies can trigger a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening medical emergency that can cause you to go into shock. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include loss of consciousness, severe shortness of breath; lightheadedness; a weak, rapid pulse; nausea; vomiting; skin rash; and swelling of your airways, which can block breathing. You must treat anaphylaxis in an emergency setting. Some patients carry an epinephrine auto-injector and should administer it immediately when the allergic reaction begins, followed by an immediate visit to the emergency department for evaluation.
Unexpected Sources
It is important that individuals with tree nut allergies read all food labels and ask about the ingredients of any foods that you did not prepare. Restaurants sometimes engage in creative cooking and may put tree nuts in dishes to enhance flavor or consistency without listing it on the menu. Some unexpected sources of tree nuts include salads and salad dressings, barbecue sauce, vegetarian burgers, breading for meats, fish, pasta dishes and pie crusts.
Cross-Contamination
It is advisable for patients to avoid all tree nuts and peanuts if known to be allergic to one type of tree nut because of the potential for cross-contamination at facilities that process different types of nuts on the same equipment. In addition, people with allergies to one type of nut are at higher risk of allergy to other types of nuts, so sometimes doctors advise these patients to avoid all nuts.
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