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UAE: Unexpected food allergies in adults could lead to severe reactions, experts warn

The prevalence of adult-onset food allergies is rising, though exact figures can vary based on region and population

Some people in their 80s can develop food allergies. Although it is less common than childhood allergies, individuals who develop a food intolerance later in life are at a higher risk of experiencing severe reactions, according to experts.

"Studies suggest that while the majority of food allergies are diagnosed in childhood, about 10 to 20 per cent of people with food allergies are diagnosed as adults,” said Dr Priyanka Porwal, Specialist Internal Medicine at Aster Clinic, Sheikh Zayed Road. “The prevalence of adult-onset food allergies is rising, though exact figures can vary based on region and population.”

She added that a study found that 15 per cent of patients with an initial food allergy diagnosis developed the problem as adults. "The age at which the first reaction occurred peaked during the early 30s, although there was a wide range, with initial onset as late as 86 years old," she said.

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One such person who suffered an adult allergy reaction was 35-year-old Zaheer Hashim. “I grew up eating seafood and never had an issue,” he said. “However, five years ago, I ate mussels and immediately began to feel uneasy. I went to the nearby clinic, and they said it was too severe for them to manage. They gave me an injection and my wife rushed me to emergency.”

The expat was admitted to Rashid Hospital and spent a day there. “My entire face and tongue had swelled to double its size and I looked very disfigured,” he said. “My oxygen saturation dropped to 60 per cent. The doctors kept checking my tongue to make sure it was not blocking my airway. He said I was brought to the hospital in the nick of time and if not, it could have been very serious. I have not touched seafood since then.”

Some possible causes

According to Dr Alaa Zedan, Specialist Internal Medicine at Burjeel Hospital for Advanced Surgery in Dubai, it was hard to pin point a reason for such allergies to develop. “The immune system changes over time,” he said. “Some possible causes include exposure to new allergens, family history, immune system changes, and limited childhood exposure.”

Dr Priyanka added that sudden changes in diet could also be a factor. “Dietary changes for weight loss or with protein supplementation along with a new exercise regimen have been noted anecdotally in the months preceding onset of food allergy, particularly wheat and cow's milk,” she said.

For 32-year-old Megha Phillip, wheat allergy was something she developed later in life. A week after arriving in Dubai, the Indian nurse suffered a severe allergic reaction to a flatbread. “I began to feel uneasy and had severe red, itchy rashes across my body,” she recalled. She fainted when she arrived at Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai, for her training to join as a nurse.

She then spent two days in the ICU and was kept under constant monitoring for low blood pressure. "I spent five years working as a nurse in India's capital New Delhi,” she said. “I ate flatbread almost daily during my stay there; I have no idea how I developed this allergy so late in life.”

The allergens and its reactions can vary according to people but it is important to learn to manage them, said Dr Alaa. “Allergies don’t usually have life-threatening consequences for most people,” he said. “However, if you’re at risk of anaphylaxis, it’s essential to carry an epinephrine auto-injector and use it immediately if you experience allergy symptoms. This could be lifesaving.”

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