Interested to learn about food allergies in children and adults? Food allergies are quite common in Dubai, as there are ingredients imported from all over the world. Eating different cuisines means everyone is playing around with potential allergens.
Spotting the early signs allows you to avoid frightening allergic reactions and rest easy knowing what to look for.
In this guide, we cover common food allergy symptoms and an allergy test at home for children and adults in Dubai.
Whether you are monitoring reactions in your child or you’re an adult who has recently had some odd symptoms after eating, keep reading!
What Are Food Allergies?
Food allergy occurs when your immune system reacts to a food protein, even if consumed in small amounts. It causes mild to severe symptoms, including life-threatening symptoms like anaphylaxis. Early identification of your triggers and eliminating them from your diet can help.
Food allergies can develop at any age, even if you have been eating that particular food for many years without problems. Food intolerance is a different problem wherein symptoms are usually limited to digestive issues like bloating, gas, or abdominal pain. An allergy can be life-threatening if ignored.
Dubai’s food scene offers a variety of ingredients from across the globe. Constant introduction of new ingredients can expose you to allergy triggers or food intolerance. Increasingly more people are experiencing symptoms and seeking food allergy testing and treatment for adults and children.
Common Signs of Food Allergies in Adults and Kids
Food allergy symptoms will occur within minutes to a few hours of consumption. Here are the most common reactions:
Skin Reactions:
- Hives, redness, or itching
- Rashes
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat
- If you have eczema as a child, food allergies can trigger flare-ups
- Digestive Problems:
- Stomach ache
- Throwing up or nausea
- Diarrhea
- Skin and digestive reactions typically happen soon after eating, so you can easily pinpoint what you’re allergic to.
Respiratory Reactions:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- Respiratory reactions can become severe quickly. Always seek emergency care if you or your child is having difficulty breathing due to an allergic reaction.
- Severe Reaction ( Anaphylaxis )
- Symptoms of anaphylaxis can include:
- Low blood pressure
- Severe swelling
- Trouble breathing
Anaphylaxis is life-threatening and needs emergency treatment. If you know you’re allergic to something and experience symptoms of anaphylaxis, use an epinephrine injection and get emergency medical care immediately.
Common Allergens in Dubai
It’s difficult not to encounter a food that triggers an allergy because Dubai offers so many types of cuisine. However, some allergies are more common than others. Common allergy triggers in Dubai include:
- Tree Nuts and Peanuts
- Seafood and shellfish
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Gluten/wheat
- Soy
- Sesame seeds (commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine)
- Environmental Allergens
Sometimes being around dust, pollen, or pollution will exacerbate your food allergy symptoms or make them become even more difficult to ignore. Did you ever realize that your child/self was getting annoyed with foods more during these times? They could be any of these three!
Some allergies are worse than others, and some people can have incredibly mild symptoms due to their food allergies. Case in point: You. If you eat that food every day or are regularly around an allergen, your body might develop a tolerance.
There are many symptoms of allergies that occur from person to person, but here are ones to look out for if you think your child/yourself is having a reaction.
What to Do During an Allergic Reaction
During an Allergic Reaction What to do:
Stay calm. React quickly. Here’s what you can do if you suspect your child is having an allergic reaction to something they ate:Stop eating
If you think your child just ate something they’re allergic to, stop. Don’t give them any more. Don’t even try a little bite to see how they’ll react.Observe
- Observe how their body reacts over the course of the next few minutes.
- If symptoms are mild and show no signs of escalating, an over-the-counter allergy medicine may help.
Emergency Service
If symptoms are severe, such as swelling of the lips or face, trouble breathing, wheezing, dizziness, loss of consciousness, rapid heartbeat, or intense stomach pains, then proceed to emergency care such as a doctor on call.
- Use an EpiPen if available and necessary.
- Epinephrine injections are the most effective form of medication for anaphylaxis.
Inform them of allergies
Make sure others who help take care of your child know this information too. Teachers, babysitters, day care nurses, and family members should know:
- Your child’s allergies
- What foods to avoid
- Early signs of an allergic reaction
- How and when to use an EpiPen
- Contact information in case of an emergency
This ensures others can act fast if you aren’t there to recognize the reaction.
Follow up with your doctor
Always make a doctor’s appointment after any allergic reaction. Your allergist will review the situation and help you determine what caused the reaction. You may need to adjust your treatment plan or avoid certain foods altogether.
Final Thoughts
Food allergies can also reside in Dubai Restaurants. You must educate yourself about food allergies. You can find these elements disguised in practically anything nowadays. Whether you are teachers, restaurant managers/owners, or parents. You need to pinpoint eating allergies as soon as possible. So that no child or adult has to suffer from anaphylactic shock. Know what your symptoms and triggers are and take action when necessary.
Get help, and with some guidance, you can figure out your triggers and establish a food allergy plan that works for you. Learn how to read labels, communicate with managers/chefs, and educate your children on what they cannot eat. Just be safe, enjoy life, and everything Dubai has to offer, even with allergies.
FAQ’s
What symptoms of food allergy are most common for kids and adults?
Rash, swelling, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing/wheezing, and symptoms of severe allergic reaction are most common.
How do I know if my child has a food allergy vs food intolerance?
Allergies involve your immune system, whereas intolerance symptoms are more related to digestion and come on more slowly.
What are the foods that cause allergy most often?
Nuts, Seafood, Eggs, Dairy, Wheat, Soy, Sesame.
Do kids develop allergies more often than adults?
Children are more likely to develop allergies. However, they can grow out of them. New allergies can develop in adults as well.
What should I do if my child is allergic to food?
Eliminate the food that you think your child may be allergic to. Observe your child’s reaction. If symptoms are mild, they may clear up with an OTC allergy medicine.
Where can I get food allergy treatment in Dubai?
Emergency rooms at any hospital can assist with food allergy treatment. Some hospitals and clinics that offer food allergy testing and treatments are pediatric allergy clinics.
