It's possible that suffer from food allergies if immune system has an aberrant reaction to particular meals. Although allergic reactions are normally not severe, they can occasionally have quite serious outcomes. An individual who is allergic to food may experience their symptoms in a broad range of ways, sometimes all at once. A common symptom is a sensation of itching in the oral cavity, the throat, or the ears [1]

The immune system protects the body from harmful pathogens and other invaders. An allergic reaction to food happens when the body's immune system incorrectly identifies a food or food ingredient as a threat, causing the body to react defensively.  Despite the fact that food allergies are hereditary, it is impossible to say with certainty whether or not a given child will develop an allergy to the same foods as one or both of their parents. There is some evidence to suggest that a peanut-allergic youngster will pass this allergy on to his or her younger siblings. Food allergies can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms. A minor reaction the first time around is no guarantee of a similarly mild reaction the second time around; a food that caused only mild symptoms the first time around may generate more severe symptoms the second time around. Different antibodies are produced by the immune system to guard against various threats. Immunoglobulin E, or IgE, is produced by the immune system to help with allergic symptoms. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a chemical messenger that is sent to cells to notify them that a chemical defence against a foreign invader is required. A high amount of the antibody IgE is present in those who are allergic to otherwise harmless environmental triggers like pollen or animal dander. An IgE spike may also be triggered by eating certain foods. Immune systems can acquire what is called "immunological memory" over time. This is a normal and beneficial immunological response that can help body react faster. This is the key to the efficacy of vaccines. However, with allergy, this response is amplified, and repeated exposures trigger ongoing immune system overreactions. This triggers an allergic reaction, which can manifest as nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, or even asthma attacks. Allergen-specific IgE antibodies are developed in response to exposure to specific allergens. This is why it's possible to be sensitive to a small number of foods or pollens while being completely unaffected by the vast majority [2]

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:

Food is essential to survival, but it can be fatal for some people. People with food allergies, for instance, need to be extremely careful about consuming particular cereals, nuts, or fish, and they also need to carefully check the ingredient lists of everything they eat to ensure that it is safe. If even a small amount of the improper food is ingested, it can cause severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips and throat, nausea, vomiting, and even death. There is a lack of information on the incidence of food allergies and the rate at which they are increasing, making it difficult for governments and health institutions to respond to the problem. It's difficult to get an accurate count of people who have food allergies. Diagnosis can be difficult due to discrepancies between societal and scientific criteria. It is challenging to pinpoint the root causes of food allergies and monitor trends in prevalence without reliable data on the number of persons affected. When the magnitude of an issue is unclear, governments may be slow to make legislative reforms, such as recommendations for food labelling [3].

Perceptions of food allergy vary widely, adding another layer of complexity to an already difficult condition. Professor of allergy prevention at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, Bengt Björkstén, has said that "the term used by common people is definitely different from how it is described by medical professionals," and that this difference may be affected by social and cultural normsThe Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is a charity with a mission to raise public understanding of food allergies via advocacy, education, and scientific progress. Despite the efforts of organisations like FAAN, "there are still too many circumstances where people do not recognise that food allergy is a medical disease, not a dietary choice," said FAAN CEO Anna Muoz-Furlong. As the world's cuisines become even more homogenised, scientists are interested in regional differences in eating habits and allergy incidence. Researchers seek to delve further into already-noticeable trends, such as the fact that sesame allergy is more frequent in Israel and the Middle East than in the rest of the globe, while in Japan and China, rice allergy is more common. Mills anticipates that the epidemiological data collected by EuroPrevall may be merged with findings from other studies throughout the globe, and the consortium has selected eight nations to represent geographical areas across Europe (budget restrictions prevent them from include more) [4].

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

“It's difficult to get an accurate count of the number of people who suffer from food allergies. Disagreements arise while trying to diagnose a condition for which there are several societal and scientific definitions. It is difficult to pinpoint the root causes of food allergies and monitor trends in prevalence without reliable data on the number of persons afflicted.”

In most cases, the onset of symptoms occurs anywhere from a few minutes to two hours following consumption of the offending item. In many instances, once the initial symptoms have subsided, a subsequent wave of symptoms might appear anywhere from one to four hours later (or sometimes even longer). A biphasic reaction is what we term this second wave of the reaction. Describe in great detail your symptoms, including what you've eaten and the amount that seems to trigger symptoms, to doctor. Include details about any family members who suffer from allergies of any kind. Exams are useful for detecting and ruling out additional health issues. A food allergy can be diagnosed using a skin prick test. A little sample of the possibly offending meal is applied to the skin of forearm or back for this test. To inject a little amount of the drug under the skin, a doctor or other medical professional will pierce your skin with a needle. Keep in mind that this test cannot be relied upon to definitively diagnose a food allergy. Immunoglobulin E, an antibody related to food allergies, can be measured via a blood test (IgE). A blood sample is taken in the doctor's office and submitted to a lab where various foods are examined for reactions [5].

It is possible that will be instructed to abstain from eating any foods that may be causing symptoms for a week or two before gradually reintroducing them. As a result, may be able to associate certain foods with symptoms. But elimination diets aren't always successful. Whether or whether reaction to a food is an actual allergy rather than just a sensitivity cannot be determined by going on an exclusion diet. As an added caution, an elimination diet may not be appropriate have ever experienced a severe reaction to a particular food. As part of this in-office procedure, gradually consume the food item thought to be triggering symptoms. In the absence of symptoms during this test, you may be able to safely reintroduce this food to diet. Avoiding allergen-causing foods is the only method to lessen or prevent allergic reactions. While should try to avoid ingesting anything that could potentially trigger an allergic reaction, accidents sometimes happen. In the case of a mild allergic reaction, antihistamines, either those available with a doctor's prescription or those sold over the counter, may be helpful. When taken soon after eating a food that triggers an allergic reaction, these medications can help reduce symptoms like itching and hives. A severe allergic reaction, however, cannot be treated with antihistamines. An epinephrine injection and a visit to the emergency room may be required in the case of a severe allergic response. Those who suffer from allergies often have an epinephrine autoinjector on them. When rubbed against the thigh, this gadget acts as a syringe and conceals a needle, injecting a single dose of medication [6].

 

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE:

Based on the above discussion, the researcher wants to pursue the following objectives:

1) To understand the accurate diagnosis of allergies through a focused history and physical examination.

2) To investigate the prevalence of allergies for who are born with allergies, 

3)To examine the prevalence of allergies for others who develop them after years of consuming an aliment without any problem.

4) To understand the main reasons for allergies in people. 

5)To find out the ways to avoid allergies for there are people who are born with allergies, and others who develop them after years of consuming an aliment without any problem.

LITERATURE REVIEW:

An immediate reaction from the immune system after consuming an allergenic meal is what call a food allergy. A person can have an allergic reaction to a meal even if they just eat a very small amount of it. Some persons with food allergies get severe symptoms or anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction. An estimated 8% of children under the age of 5 and up to 4% of adults suffer from food allergies. There is currently no treatment for food allergies, but some children do outgrow them as they mature. Many people have the wrong idea about what constitutes a food allergy and what constitutes food intolerance, even though the latter is far more frequent. Even though it's annoying, food intolerance isn't a dangerous ailment because it doesn't affect the immune system. Some people are predisposed to developing allergies, but it can happen to anyone at any time. Having a history of cancer in your family is one potential contributing factor. There is a 30% - 50% probability that a child of at least one allergic parent would also acquire allergies. If both parents suffer from allergies, that number rises to 60%-80%. Many people don't discover they have allergies until they are infants or toddlers. Some of these allergies may go away on their own, but for the most part they will be a chronic problem [1].

Allergies can manifest at any age, including adulthood. Allergies that develop in adulthood may appear out of nowhere, but can be traced back to factors like environmental exposure, genetics, and immune system shifts. Peanuts, fish, shellfish (including shrimp and lobster), and tree nuts are the top allergens in adults (almonds, walnuts, pecans and cashews). Can't expect to know every trigger that could induce an allergic reaction and then avoid it, so if are susceptible to adult-onset allergies, no means of avoiding them. Additionally, some new studies suggest that avoiding allergens can increase the likelihood of an individual developing allergies because the immune system is exposed to fewer novel compounds [3].

To the same extent, we do not know why some people develop allergies and others do not, especially with regards to allergies experienced in childhood. There are likely many different environmental and genetic factors at play. The use of antimicrobials and the generally high standard of cleanliness in today's society are blamed, at least in part, by the "hygiene hypothesis" as a contributing factor to the rise in allergy disease that has been studied by scientists. The emergence of environmental allergies in adults is not uncommon. The patient may have always been predisposed to develop allergies; nevertheless, exposure to the allergen may have increased due to changes in the patient's environment (for example, a new pet in the home) [7].

Mixed methods research combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research in order to answer the research question. Mixed methods can help again a more complete picture than a standalone quantitative or qualitative study, as it integrates benefits of both methods. Researcher will conduct a mixed-method research study, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, to find answers to the issues stated above. Due to the complementary nature of qualitative and quantitative approaches, a combination of the two is very helpful in elucidating the truth. Over the last two decades, this line of thinking has gained widespread acceptance among experts in the subject.

Sampling: A survey questionnaire will be developed with items designed to measure allergies, there are people who are born with allergies, and there are others who develop them after years of consuming an aliment without any problem. A pilot study will be conducted with the questionnaire using a group of 30 allergy patients. A total of 1500 questionnaires will be distributed among allergy patients selected in a convenient sampling. All the completed questionnaires will be considered for the study and any incomplete questionnaire will be rejected by the researcher.  Qualitative study will be used to assess the factors allergies, there are people who are born with allergies, and there are others who develop them after years of consuming an aliment without any problem by using interviews. The interviews will be mostly telephonic and face to face because of the sensitive issue. 

Data and Measurement: Primary data for the research study will be collected through questionnaire survey (one-to-correspondence or google-form survey). The questionnaire will be divided into two parts – (A) Demographic information (B) Factor determining the causes of there are people who are born with allergies and others who develop them after years of consuming an aliment without any problem. Secondary data will be collected from multiple sources, primarily internet resources. 

Statistical Software:  MS-Excel and SPSS 24 will be used for Statistical analysis.

Statistical tools: Descriptive analysis will be applied to understand the basic nature of the data. Validity and reliability of the data will be tested through Cronbach alpha. The study will implement regression for data analysis. 

RESULT:

1. Factor Analysis

A common application of factor analysis is verifying the latent component structure of a grouping of measurement items (FA). It is believed that latent factors, also known as unobserved factors, are the ones responsible for the scores on the observable variables (also known as measured variables). Accuracy analysis, also known as FA, is a method that is model-based. The modelling of causal pathways between observed phenomena, unobserved causes, and measurement error is the primary focus of this research approach.

Using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Method (KMO Method), one can determine whether or not the data are suitable for factor analysis. Each model variables and the whole model are evaluated to see whether they were adequately sampled. The statistic measures the potential shared variation among many variables. In general, the smaller the percentage, the better the data will be suitable to factor analysis.

KMO gives back numbers between 0 & 1. If the KMO value is between 0.8 and 1, then the sampling is considered to be sufficient.

If the KMO is less than 0.6, then the sampling is insufficient and corrective action is required. Some writers use a number of 0.5 for this, thus between 0.5 and 0.6, you'll have to apply your best judgement.

• KMO Near 0 indicates that the total of correlations is small relative to the size of the partial correlations. To rephrase, extensive correlations pose a serious challenge to component analysis.

• Kaiser's cutoffs for acceptability are as follows:

• Kaiser's cutoffs for acceptability are as follows:

• A dismal 0.050 to 0.059.

• 0.60 - 0.69 below-average

• Typical range for a middle grade: 0.70–0.79.

• Having a quality point value between 0.80 and 0.89.

• The range from 0.90 to 1.00 is really stunning.

  1. Test for Hypothesis

Table 1: KMO and Bartlett's

EFA begins with a validation of the data's appropriateness for factor analysis. Regarding this, Kaiser suggested that factor analysis only be conducted if the KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) indicator of sample adequacy coefficient value was larger than 0.5. It has been determined that the KMO value for the data used in this investigation is.870. Additionally, a significance level of 0.00 was found using Bartlett's test of sphericity.

• ALLERGIES

An allergic reaction takes place when a person's immune system has a negative reaction to normally non-threatening elements in their surroundings. Allergens are the name given to these particular chemicals. Dust mites, pollen, insects, ticks, moulds, foods, and some drugs may all be sources of allergens. Dust mites are the most common allergen. Allergic rhinitis, often known as hay fever, eczema, hives, asthma, and an allergy to certain foods are all examples of allergens. As the signs and symptoms of allergies are shared with a variety of different medical disorders, it is important to see a physician regularly for a professional diagnosis and treatment.

• BORN WITH ALLERGIES

Hereditary predisposition to develop allergies is a common phenomenon. This implies that it is possible for a person's parents to transmit their allergic tendencies to their children via their genes. Nevertheless, just because both parents have allergies does not always guarantee that both of the parent's children will also have allergies. A person's susceptibility to developing allergies, rather than a specific allergy itself, is more likely to be passed on. Some children suffer from allergies despite the absence of an allergic relative in their immediate household. Most of the time, children who are allergic to one item are also allergic to other things. There are also children who have cross-reactions. Apples, for instance, have a protein that is very similar to one that is found in birch pollen, which means that children who are allergic to birch pollen may experience symptoms after eating an apple. Those who are allergic to latex, which may be found in latex gloves and some types of medical equipment, are also more likely to be allergic to certain foods, such as kiwi, chestnuts, avocados, and bananas.

• CONSUMPTION OF AILMENT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM:

A food allergy is a response that happens shortly after consuming a specific meal and is caused by the immune system. Even a very little quantity of the food that causes the allergic reaction might result in signs and symptoms, such as gastrointestinal issues, hives, or enlarged airways. For some individuals, a food allergy may result in severe symptoms or even an anaphylactic response, which is a reaction that poses a significant risk to one's life. An estimated eight percent of children under the age of five and up to four percent of adults suffer from food allergies. Although though there is no treatment for food allergies, some children are able to outgrow their sensitivities as they become older. It's easy to become confused between a food allergy and food intolerance, which is a response that happens considerably more often. Food intolerance is a condition that, although annoying, is not considered to be life-threatening since it does not affect the immune system. For some individuals, an allergic response to a specific food may just be somewhat bothersome rather than life-threatening. An allergic response to food may be a terrifying experience, and in some cases it can even be life-threatening. Food allergy symptoms often begin manifesting anywhere from a few minutes to two hours following consumption of the allergenic meal. Sometimes the onset of symptoms might be delayed by several hours.

H01: “There is no significant relationship between Allergy and born with Allergies and consumption of ailment without any problem.”     

 H1: “There is a significant relationship between Allergy and born with Allergies and consumption of ailment without any problem.”

Table 2: ANOVA Sum

In this study, the result is significant. The value of F is 1059.683, which reaches significance with a p-value of .000 (which is less than the .05 alpha level). This means the “H₁:There is a significant relationship between Allergy and born with Allergies and consumption of ailment without any problem.” is accepted and the null hypothesis is rejected.

CONCLUSION:

Those who suffer from food allergies go through several periods of consumer sensitivity throughout their life, both before and after they are diagnosed with their condition. Hyposensitivity to food Food allergy type and symptom severity (individual characteristics); acceptance of the diagnosis; stage of adaptation to food allergy; and level of knowledge acquired (individual states); and discrimination or stigmatisation; cost and availability of allergen-free food; labelling of foods; and knowledge level of café or restaurant staff (environmental factors) all play a role in determining whether they experience vulnerability in different contexts (external conditions). This chapter adds to the growing body of literature on the topic of food allergies, which has the potential to reduce prejudice and stigma while increasing the availability of allergen-free dining options. In addition, clients with food allergies might get comfort in knowing they are not alone in their struggles and perspective on how others have dealt with and adjusted to their situation. Food allergies, owing to their increasing frequency, warrant attention in the field of health psychology. According to the most recent data, the challenges that arise from having to live with a food allergy are common and have a negative impact on the mental health of the population that is seeing rapid growth.

LIMITATION:

Every study has limitations. The study will include participants which is a small sample size. This survey will be conducted by a questionnaire method to identify the effects of allergies among the people born with it and who develop it later in life. It is a cross-sectional study to obtain the general perception of allergies in patients. Physical examination and patient history will also be studied.

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2. onderzoek, V. (2019, 11 19). Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved from Food Allergies.: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/food-allergies 

3. Brazier, Y. (2020, 12 10). Aditya Sky Park Residency,​Nager. Retrieved from Medecal newstoday: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263965

4. FAAN (2005) Public Comment on 2005 Food Safety Survey: Docket No. 2004N-0516 (2005 FSS). Fairfax, VA, USA: Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network 

5. Asica. (2022, 07 14). Food allergy and intolerance. Retrieved from Better Health Channel: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/food-allergy-and-intolerance

6. Clinic, M. (2022, 04 13). Food allergy . Retrieved from ACAAI Public Website: https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/food/

7. Martinis, M. (2017, 04 01). Allergy and Aging: An Old/New Emerging Health Issue. Retrieved from Pubmed central: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5362176/