Rice is a food staple for billions of people all over the world, but some can develop an allergic reaction to this type of grain upon ingestion. The symptoms of rice allergy can range from mild to life-threatening. Being familiar with the symptoms of the allergy can help save a life. Just like with any medical condition, consult a doctor if you suspect that a family member is allergic to rice.
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What are the outward signs of rice allergy?
The common rice allergy symptoms include vomiting, bloated stomach, skin rashes and diarrhea. The rice that an individual ingests causes the build-up of gases or cause loose stools if the body lacks an enzyme for proper breaking down of the rice.
Vomiting can occur once the body perceived rice as a threat and will attempt to eliminate the rice from the body. Rashes can also occur if a topical product that contains rice and rice derivatives but can also occur if rice is ingested.
Mild symptoms
The mild symptoms of rice allergy include stomach ache and itchiness particularly inside the mouth. These are mild reactions that are most likely to become severe if the individual is exposed to rice again. Always bear in mind that a mild reaction can occur in a spontaneous manner at any age but more likely to occur among children.
Severe reactions
When it comes to severe or life-threatening reactions, they can occur at any time without any warning. The signs include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, swelling of the tongue or throat and a rapid pulse. This is a condition is anaphylactic shock and can be fatal if there is a delay in emergency care. Upon taking the individual to the hospital, he/she receives a shot of epinephrine since it eases the symptoms of the allergic reaction.
Preventive measures
Just like with other food allergies, there is no cure for the allergy. Luckily, there are ways to minimize the risk for reactions. Initially, you have to remove rice and rice-based products from the diet and personal care products. The next step is to consult a doctor who specializes in allergies. Lastly, stress out the importance of reading the labels of products to prevent accidental exposure since some products in the market might contain rice.
What to do during emergency cases?
In case of severe allergic reactions such as an anaphylactic shock, some individuals usually bring along an EpiPen in case the symptoms start to manifest. It provides a shot of epinephrine counteract the symptoms. The doctor administers a shot in the thigh. If you want to learn how to use an EpiPen properly during severe allergic reactions, click here.
FACT CHECK
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_allergy